What is the difference between sumac and poison sumac

But the berries of staghorn sumac are red. They are packed tightly together in soft, cone-shaped tufts that grow upright. But the plants will have leaves for more months of the year than they will have berries, and they will have twigs the youngest branches year-round.

So learning the differences between their leaves and twigs is even more helpful. Both poison sumac and staghorn sumac have compound leaves, made up of individual leaflets. Happily, their leaves differ in a few ways, so you should have no trouble telling them apart. Even in winter when there are no leaves , you can tell the two apart by inspecting their twigs:. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content.

Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. About 85 percent of people are allergic to urushiol, the oily compound responsible for the skin reaction.

Urushiol is found in all parts of these plants. Simply touching the leaves may expose you to the oil, and additional oil is released when plant parts are crushed or damaged. The oil resists breakdown and may cling to clothing, tools, and pet fur for long periods of time, even a year or more.

Exposure to the oil on these secondary sources can also cause an allergic reaction. Not everyone is allergic to these plants, and sensitivity varies between people, but allergies may develop with increased contact.

People suffering from a rash caused by these plants need not worry about spreading it to other parts of the body or to other individuals. After the rash appears, it is not contagious, and any observed spreading of the rash is the result of a delay in reaction from previous exposure or from re-exposure due to contact with clothing and equipment that has not been properly cleaned.

Although the rash may be visible in as little as a few hours, it may take up to 3 weeks for the entire rash to appear. In mild cases, hydrocortisone creams or other anti- itch creams can be applied to soothe irritation. Some products are marketed specifically for treatment of poison ivy and poison oak rashes and can be obtained over-the-counter at local pharmacies. Calamine lotion and oral antihistamines also can provide some relief.

Most cases will clear up in a matter of weeks without further medical attention. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of people will have reactions severe enough to require medical treatment, often in the form of oral or injected low-dose steroids administered by a doctor.

Seek medical help if the rash becomes infected, covers a large part of the body, causes swelling of the face or other sensitive areas, or causes difficulty with swallowing or breathing. Eating the plants can cause severe internal irritation, and inhaling particles of urushiol released by burning poison ivy, oak, or sumac can cause swelling of the respiratory passages, which can even result in death.

These cases require specific and immediate medical treatment. Controlling infestations of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac plants can be tricky because contact must be avoided. It may be tempting to burn a patch that intrudes in a backyard, but under no circumstances should you burn any part of these poisonous plants. Urushiol will become airborne in the smoke, and inhalation may cause severe swelling of the esophagus and respiratory passages, resulting in difficulty breathing and potentially death.

Likewise, trimming or mowing patches or vines can cause particles of the allergen to become airborne. The safest way to control these poisonous plants in your yard is by using an herbicide spray. Effective herbicides containing glyphosate and triclopyr, some specifically labelled for poison ivy control, can be found in the gardening section of most general stores. Follow instructions on the packaging label. Be patient and persistent, as several applications may be necessary to kill these hardy plants.

If it becomes necessary to cut the vines, keep in mind that severing the vines will release sap, and some urushiol may become airborne or drop from overhead leaves. The utmost care should be taken that no particles are inhaled.

When cutting a vine, wear protective clothing long sleeves, pants, and close-toed shoes , and a dust mask. Try not to sever these vines on a windy day, as this will increase the likelihood of allergens being spread. It is also best to do this in the winter, when sap is less abundant in the plant tissue. Read on to find out how to tell the difference between them.

Plus lots more tips for identifying and dealing with poison sumac. There are around 35 different types of sumac, flowering plants that belong to the genus Rhus. They are tall shrubs that can reach 30 feet, with fruits that grow in clusters known as drupes. Traditionally sumac has been used by different cultures in diverse ways. The edible berries of smooth sumac Rhus glabra and staghorn sumac Rhus typhina are used in beverages in North America. The vibrant red colour of sumac fruits has served as a dye, often used in the production of Moroccan leather.

Sumac leaves and fruits are combined with tobacco to make traditional smoking mixtures in native American culture. The sturdy hollow stems are used in pipes and to tap maple trees. Unlike poison sumac, ornamental sumac brush can be safely burned, and the smoke can be used by beekeepers to calm the bees during hive maintenance.

Harmless sumac is easy to grow from seed or from rhizomes. In fact, in ideal conditions, they can become invasive because they self-seed readily when the wind blows and the roots rhizomes travel enthusiastically. Their rampant growth habits make this tree an excellent choice for a large, treeless property or a hillside area that has trouble with erosion.

The trees form a network of shallow roots that help keep the soil in place. They tend to grow in groves to give each other the support of a complex root system.

These hardy trees grow happily and harmlessly across the United States and Canada. They can tolerate drought and poor soil conditions. There are many varieties of harmless aka ornamental sumac, and they can grow in a wide variety of settings except shady, swampy areas.

Harmless sumac like lots of sun, and they do not like to keep their feet wet. In fact, they are drought resistant. The different varieties differ somewhat in appearance. Just remember that they do not have smooth-edged leaves or pendulous white berries. Most varieties of harmless sumac share these qualities:.

Ornamental sumac is highly adaptive, and there are different types for every region of the United States and Canada. There are also imported sumac that has been brought in from other parts of the world and happily naturalized in North America. Here are some of the varieties you may encounter. Smooth sumac Rhus glabra is a small tree that has loose fruit clusters and smooth bark.

Its leaves are especially attractive because they are much lighter on the underside than on the top surface. The underside of the leaf can be nearly white, and this gives the foliage a shimmering appearance when the wind blows. This specimen can range in height from two feet to twenty feet.

It is hardy in zones 3 through 9. Because of its wide range, it has many names, including Common sumac, Pennsylvania sumac, Rocky mountain sumac, Western sumac and Upland sumac. Because of its dramatic coloration and attractive bark, it is called Red sumac, Scarlet sumac, White sumac and Sleek sumac. Many parts of Rhus glabra can be used to produce a wide variety of natural dyes ranging in shades from yellow to red to black. It is also a good choice for making beverages and using as a spice.

Prairie Flame is a cultivar of smooth sumac that produces very brilliant red foliage in the fall. The color contrast between the topsides and undersides of the leaves is quite striking. There are many culinary, medicinal and craft uses for ornamental sumac. Native Americans found harmless sumac useful for a wide variety of pursuits.