Sumac is in
the cashew family along with smoketree (Cotinus
spp.), poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans),
mango, and pistachio. There are three
species that are common in Alabama, winged sumac, Rhus copallinum, which is also known as shining sumac, smooth sumac,
R. glabra, and fragrant sumac, R. aromatica. Many people hear sumac and think poison
sumac, T. vernix, but there is a relatively easy way to distinguish between them when flowers or fruit are present because they
are terminal and red on all non-toxic sumac species versus axillary and initially green the ripening to white or cream colored on the toxic species. In fact the red fruits of sumac are eatable where they taste like lemonade and if brewed will have the appearance of pink lemonade. Fragrant sumac has trifoliate leaves similar
to poison ivy and poison oak, T.
pubescens, which is most resembles.
Winged sumac and be distinguished from smooth sumac by the leaf blade
like wings on the rachis of the pinnately compound leaves of the winged sumac, which
also has rough lenticel covered stems rather than smooth twigs glacus (wax coated)
appearance. This glacus also distinguishes
smooth sumac from the more northern staghorn sumac, which has velvet like fuzz
on the stems. The