Trees of Alabama and the Southeast Home Page

Leaves are compound, alternate, and deciduous with 7-13 leaflets, a red rachis and an entire leaf margin.  Leaves turn bright red in the fall. Twigs are stout, brown-gray, and glabrous with shield-shaped leaf scars.  Bark is gray and smooth with prominent lenticels and black patches from exuded sap.  Flowers are yellow-green. Fruit is a white juicy drupe.  Poison-sumac is poisonous and no plant parts should be touched.  It is a shrub or small tree up to 30 feet in height that is found in wet areas in the east and central U.S. and is tolerant of shade.

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All text and photographs are intended for educational purposes only and are not for commercial use in any form.  All photographs are copyrighted by the named photographer(s), text copyright by Lisa Samuelson. © 2005, all rights reserved. Photographs by Mike Hogan.