Is staghorn sumac poisonous to humans?

Similar plants

The most widespread sumac — staghorn sumac — is non-poisonous. Staghorn sumac has bright orange or red berries growing at the edge of its stems. Its leaves also have saw-toothed edges, unlike poison sumac.

Is staghorn sumac poisonous to the touch?

Many people remember the name "sumac" in conjunction with poisonous plants, and worry that all sumacs must be toxic. However, the common sumac species which grow along roads and in fields are not poison sumac. They are either staghorn or smooth sumac, both species quite harmless to touch.

Will staghorn sumac give you a rash?

Under no circumstances, however, do you ever want to touch any part, berry, stem, bark or root of the poison sumac plant, as all are toxic and can produce massive rashes and blisters.

How can you tell if a sumac is poisonous or staghorn sumac?

The leaflets of poison sumac have smooth margins; those of staghorn sumac are toothed. A staghorn sumac leaf will have at least 9 leaflets on it (up to 31). A poison sumac leaf will have at most around 13 leaflets (usually fewer). The twigs on poison sumac are smooth; those on staghorn sumac are covered in tiny hairs.

Can you eat the berries of staghorn sumac?

When most people think of “sumac,” they think of the itchy relative of poison ivy. Staghorn sumac, however, is an entirely different variety, and is both edible and delicious!

How to Identify Poison Sumac

What happens if you touch sumac?

The allergic reaction to poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac is usually contact dermatitis. This may happen 24 to 72 hours after exposure. The dermatitis is characterized by bumps and blisters that itch. Sometimes, swelling happens in the area of contact.

Can you eat staghorn sumac raw?

The most commonly eaten parts of sumac plants are the ripe red berries. These acidic and tart berries can be eaten raw or dried, though they're most popularly used in the form of a berry tea or sumac-ade. Sumac-ade is best when sweetened with maple sugar and can be served hot or cold (Moerman 1998: 471-473).

What part of staghorn sumac is edible?

Is Staghorn Sumac Edible? Yes, you can eat both the young shoots and the berries of staghorn sumac. The young peeled, first-year shoots from old stumps, are best, but springtime tips of old branches are also good.

Can staghorn sumac be used as a spice?

Until the Romans introduced lemons to Europe, sumac was used as a spice to impart foods with a lemony tang and lovely burst of color. Since then, it has been used for medicinal purposes, but most people today turn it into spice mixes, teas, sauces and syrups.

Is sumac worse than poison ivy?

Skin contact with the oil of a poison sumac plant leads to an itchy, burning allergic skin reaction. Poison sumac is considered more allergenic than both poison ivy and poison oak. These are other well-known plants that are also in the Toxicodendron genus of the sumac family.

What should I do if I touched poison sumac?

If you have contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac, immediately wash areas of the skin that may have touched the plant. Sometimes the resulting rash (contact dermatitis) can be completely avoided by washing the affected areas with plenty of water and soap (such as dishwashing soap) or rubbing alcohol.

How long does it take to get poison sumac after exposure?

Previous rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac: A rash usually appears within 4 to 48 hours. Never had a rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac: It typically takes 2 to 3 weeks.

What can you use staghorn sumac for?

Staghorn Sumac had edible uses. The fruits were made into a pink lemonade-like drink or were made into jams and jellies. The fruit hairs delayed the rain from washing away the fruit's flavoring. To make the beverage, 1 cup of fruit was steeped in 1quart of boiling water for15 minutes.

What does staghorn sumac taste like?

It is the indigenous American sumac that brings a complex mild flavor all of its own: tart, with cherry and toasty notes, less astringent and better as a finishing spice.

Can you smoke staghorn sumac?

If you dry out Staghorn Sumac heads, you can keep them for several years and when you are ready to open your hive, use them in your smoker. They will smolder nicely and produce a very calming smoke (even better, add some dried chamomile).

Can you touch poison sumac?

Poison ivy, oak, and sumac rash is not contagious. It can't be spread from person to person by touching the blisters, or from the fluid inside the blisters. But oil that remains on skin, clothes, or shoes can be spread to another person and cause a rash.

How do I know if I have poison sumac on my skin?

A rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac looks like patches or streaks of red, raised blisters. The rash doesn't usually spread unless urushiol is still in contact with your skin.

How do you get rid of staghorn sumac?

Eradicating sumac through mechanical means requires chopping or mulching trees down as close to ground level as possible, removing saplings by hand, and mowing any root sprouts that break the surface. Mulching, using a disc or drum mulcher, is a quick and effective method for taking on sumac.

Can sumac make you sick?

Allergic contact dermatitis. Exposure to the oily sap (urushiol) of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac can result in redness and itchy blisters which can spread if scratched. The rash is an allergic reaction and can appear within hours of exposure or up to a few days after exposure.

Can you get a rash from a sumac tree?

Avoid areas where poisonous plants grow

Poison ivy, oak, and sumac all contain an oil called urushiol (yur-oo-shee-aal). If you have an allergic reaction to this oil, you can develop a rash. Because most people are allergic to this oil, just about everyone who comes into contact with it develops a rash.

Can you touch sumac trees?

Because urushiol is inside the plant, brushing against an intact plant will not cause a reaction. But undamaged plants are rare. Urushiol can stick to tools, shoes, clothes, or anything. Just touching them could cause a reaction in a susceptible person.

Does sumac tenderize meat?

In his work as a chef, Tamimi says, “sumac is used to tenderize meat” thanks to an enzyme it contains that “helps make meat juicier and softer.” Using sumac to season barbecue is also a common practice across the Middle East, including in Al-Saigh's native Iraq.

Why is it called staghorn sumac?

The staghorn sumac is a large, deciduous tree native to the eastern half of North America and produces edible fruit known as "sumac berries." The name of the tree derives from the resemblance of its branches to the antlers of a stag, both in structure and texture.

Do birds like staghorn sumac?

Chickadees, waxwings, nuthatches, and warblers eat sumac berries in the late winter when other fruit is hard to find. Cardinals and thrushes eat seeds from the white-cedar cones. The dense foliage provides good shelter and nesting sites for birds.

How do you know when staghorn sumac is ripe?

Harvest the red cones in August when they are bright and full and before heavy rains that can wash out their color and flavor. Taste one drupe before picking to make sure that it is ripe, with a tangy, lemony flavor.