Staghorn sumac

Leaves

Form

• 11–31 leaflets
• Lance-shaped
• Curved, long-pointed
• Almost stalkless
• Fine hairs on the midvein and lateral veins
• Central leaflets largest
• Central stalk densely hairy

Length

• Leaflets 5–12 cm
• Leaflets and central stalk 30–50 cm

Colour

• Upper surface dark green
• Lower surface paler
• Central stalk reddish

Autumn colour

• Bright scarlet or orange 

Margin

• Sharply toothed

Buds

Form

• No terminal bud
• Lateral buds rounded, covered with long hairs
• Leaf scars crescent-shaped, almost encircling the bud, with 3 groups of vein scars

Length

• Lateral buds 5–7 mm

Colour

• Hairs on lateral buds pale brown

Twigs

Form

• Very stout
• Exuding a milky sap if broken
• Ending in a cluster of fruits or a dead stub
• Growth resumes each year from 1 to 3 lateral buds below the dead tip, creating a distinctive y-branching effect
• Densely covered with dark velvety hairs
• Pith large

Colour

• Pith yellowish-brown

Flowers

Form

• Small
• In large, dense, erect terminal clusters (panicles)

Length

• Pollen flower clusters about 30 cm
• Seed flower clusters less than 30 cm

Colour

• Greenish-yellow

Structure

• Polygamo-dioecious

Floral timing

• July, after the leaves are fully developed

Fruits

Form

• Small, juicy, with a single seed
• Covered with glandular hairs
• In large, dense, erect, cone-shaped terminal clusters
• Remain on tree throughout winter

Width

• 3–5 mm

Colour

• Red
• Hairs reddish

Structure

• Drupe

Bark

Form

• Thin, smooth
• Prominent lenticels
• Becoming scaly with age

Colour

• Dark yellowish-brown

Wood

Texture

• Light, soft, brittle

Colour

• Orange-green
• Rays greenish

Morphology

• Rays broad

Uses

• Occasionally used for decorative finishing and wood novelties

Size

Height

• To 6 m

Diameter

• To 10 cm

Maximum age

• 50 years

Tree form

Forest-grown

Trunk

• Forked

Crown

• Flat-topped, spreading

Root system

• Shallow, wide-spreading

Habitat

Site

• Open areas
• On sandy or rocky soils

Light tolerance

• Intolerant of shade

Associated species

• Typically found in large colonies

Range

North shore of Lake Superior east to Nova Scotia