Linda in Erie asked about yesterday’s post – “How do you tell the difference between sumac and poison sumac?”
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Both Staghorn Sumac and Smooth Sumac have toothed leaflets.
Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)
In Poison Sumac, the leaflet is entire.
By the way… Poison Sumac (and Ivy and Oak) used to be under the Rhus genus and are listed that way in my Newcomb’s guide. But now they are in their own genus – Toxicodendron – which means poison tree.
Thanks for the clarification. Also, if you look closely on the first photo, the sumac has little hairs on the limbs. Poison sumac, it looks like, doesn’t.
I was wondering this too — thanks for the clarifications.