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Name: Kim S.
Status: other
Age: 40s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2001-2002
Question:
I was wondering if the sumac that turns red in the fall is the sumac that is poison? We went for a hike by Lake Michigan and saw sumac but it was not listed on their poisonous plant list. Years ago my brothers cooked their sandwiches over sumac and didn't know it was poisonous. I wondered if you just touch it, is it poisonous? thank-you

Replies:
Poison sumac is restricted to around acidic bogs. There are many species of sumac, some of which superficially look much alike but can be told apart fairly easily with a good tree/shrub guide.

J. Elliott

The following pages should help. Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) which is not poisonous has colorful red leaves in the autumn and red fruit that persists throughout the winter. Poison sumac has greenish berries and is found in swamps.

http://www.violetsnow.com/wk_sum.htm

http://ncnatural.com/wildflwr/fall/sumac.html

http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/wildlife/ntvplts/sumac.htm

Anthony R. Brach, Ph.D.


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