Identifying characteristics:
The common name refers to the hairy, velvet-covered, stout, erect branches
which resemble the antlers of a stag. Growing to 25 feet tall, the staghorn
sumac is taller than most sumacs. It forms a loose, open shrub or scraggly
tree with a slender trunk and a flat-topped crown, and spreads to form thickets
by root suckers. The alternate, pinnately-compound leaves
are 1 to 2 feet long, with 11 to 31 leaflets each 2 to 5 inches long. The
margins of the leaflets are sharply-toothed. Leaflets are hairy when young,
becoming almost smooth above and fall color is brilliant, red, orange or
crimson. Small, yellow-green flowers
are produced in dense panicles from early summer, usually with male and
female flowers on separate plants. The fruits
are densely hairy drupes produced in a tightly-packed, upright, pyramidal
panicle. The crimson coloring of the fruits is striking from late August
through April, but the color becomes darker with the colder weather. The
species name "typhina" refers to the furry seedheads that
could remind one of the mature seedheads of cattails, of the genus Typha.
The C-shaped leaf scars, each with 3 to 9 bundle scars, nearly encircle
the cone-shaped buds. Bud scales are obscured by a dense covering
of long, silky golden-brown hairs. Bark is thin, smooth and yellowish-brown,
with prominent lenticels developing small scales on older stems. The milky,
resinous sap dries black when exposed to air.
Similar species:
Ecology:
Distribution: The staghorn sumac is native to eastern North America
from Quebec to Ontario, south to Georgia, Indiana and west to Iowa.
Habitat: This sumac is common along the edges of upland woods and in other dry, open waste areas (such as roadsides and railroad tracks) in the extreme northeastern parts of Iowa. It is generally found in rich soils of upland sites, but also grows in sandy, gravely soils. It tolerates city conditions and will grow in sterile soils. The staghorn sumac has no serious pests or diseases, although Verticillium wilt is common in this species. Minor pests include leaf spots, mites and scales.
Uses:
Wood: The wood is not used commercially as it is soft and
weak.
Wildlife: The smooth sumac (R. glabra) and the staghorn sumac are important native plants for wildlife. The persistent fruits are a valuable source of winter food for birds. Deer and moose browse the twigs and leaves; rabbits eat the bark; and honeybees are attracted to the flowers. Staghorn sumacs provide valuable cover and nesting sites for wildlife. The fruits are used to make a refreshing, lemon-like drink that is high in Vitamin C.
Horticulture: This sumac is good for erosion control as it suckers from the roots and forms fast-growing colonies. It is sometimes planted as a border tree or an edge plant for wildlife. It is not suited to small spaces, foundation- or container-planting. 'Laciniata' is a female variety with deeply divided, fern-like leaves. 'Dissecta' is a female variety with more deeply divided leaves. The native smooth sumac (R. glabra) is smaller (to 15 feet tall) than the staghorn sumac, has hairless twigs and smooth leaf margins.
