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West Virginia Trees

Chapter 103: POISON SUMACH
By A. B. Brooks
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Nature/Gardening/Animals

About This Book

A practical field guide to the native and introduced trees of West Virginia, providing keys based mainly on leaves and fruits, concise family and species descriptions, and detailed line drawings for about 101 native species. It organizes trees by botanical families, gives brief flower notes, a glossary of terms, and suggestions for identifying specimens; occasional introduced species and shrubs are noted. The bulletin emphasizes simplicity for non-specialists, offers measurements and habit descriptions for each species, and includes administrative prefatory material. Its aim is to aid lay readers and students in tree identification and to encourage local interest in forestry.

POISON SUMACH

Rhus vernix, L.

Form.—A shrub or small tree sometimes reaching a height of 10-15 feet; trunk usually branching near the ground and separating into a loose irregular head.

Leaves.—Alternate, compound, leaflets 7-13, oblong-obovate, entire, poisonous.

Flowers.—June-July; polygamous; small, yellowish-green, arranged in long drooping panicles.

Fruit.—Small, nearly spherical, glossy, dull white drupes in long, loose, drooping, axillary panicles; ripening in early autumn and persisting into the winter.

Bark.—Thin, streaked, smooth, covered with numerous raised lenticels.

Wood.—Soft, brittle, light yellow.

Range.—Ontario to Florida, west to Louisiana and Minnesota.

Distribution in West Virginia.—Rare, found in swamps at Cowen, Webster County and near Elkins, Randolph County.

Habitat.—Thrives best in swamps but may be found on moist slopes.

Notes.—Poison Dogwood, Poison Elder, and Poison Oak are other names of this species. This is one of our most poisonous plants and should be avoided except by those who are immune. It has no commercial importance.