Rhus copallina

(Shiny Sumac or Winged Sumac)

Martha Ruth Wardle

<i>Rhus copallina</i>leaves

[Photo taken by Ruth Wardle, 9 August, 1997 on Sams Farm]

the Anacardiaceae family (cashew family)

Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), "a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist"Shetler & Skog, 1978 described the copallina species of Rhus. Linnaeus is the "founder of modern plant systematics and nomenclature."(Shetler & Skog, 1978) The names of the species he identified are followed with his initial, L., and specimens of many species he described, most likely this species among them, are located in the Linnaean herbarium at the Linnean Society of London (LINN).

Ecological Requirements and Life Cycle of the Winged Sumac:

Winged Sumac can grow in woods, but more especially in open places like "fields, roadsides, and fence rows" (Duncan & Duncan, 1988). It will grow in elevations up to 1400 m. (Duncan & Duncan, 1988) Winged Sumac is a deciduous tree.

Diagnostic Characteristics of Rhus copallina

<i>Rhus copallina</i>leaves

[Photo taken by Ruth Wardle, 9 August, 1997 on Sams Farm]

Rhus copallina
Area Status References
North America:

Continental United States; Canada

Yes Shetler & Skog, 1978
Eastern North America:

United States east of Mississippi;

Ontario and eastern Canada

Yes Duncan & Duncan, 1988;
Shetler & Skog, 1978
Southeastern States:

AL AR DE DC FL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV

Yes Shetler & Skog, 1978
Southern Appalachian States:

AL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV

Yes Shetler & Skog, 1978
Coastal Plain Yes Shetler & Skog, 1978
Piedmont Yes Shetler & Skog, 1978
Blue Ridge Mountains Yes Shetler & Skog, 1978
Ridge and Valley Yes Shetler & Skog, 1978
Cumberland Plateau Yes Shetler & Skog, 1978
Central Arch Yes Shetler & Skog, 1978
Georgia Yes Duncan & Duncan, 1988
Clarke County Common Ruth Wardle, Pers. Ob.
Sams Farm Common Ruth Wardle, Pers. Ob.
Old Field (Sams Farm) Common Ruth Wardle, Pers. Ob.
Wetland (Sams Farm) ? Ruth Wardle, Pers. Ob.
Woods (Sams Farm) Common on Edge Ruth Wardle, Pers. Ob.
1-Hectare Plot (Sams Farm) Absent Ruth Wardle, Pers. Ob.

Uses of Rhus copallina:

Sometimes Rhus copallina is planted "as an ornamental and to attract birds". (Duncan & Duncan, 1988)

Directions for finding Rhus copallina on Sams Farm, Athens, Clarke County, Georgia:

Enter the farm through the gate on Rte. 78. Drive into the field about 10 m. Get out of the car and walk away from the road farther into the field. The edge of the woods is on the right. After walking about 20 m in this direction, look to the right at the edge of the woods. A full grown Winged Sumac tree is located there. It is about 4 m tall and when the leaves are examined, the winged rachis can be clearly seen as in the photograph taken of this individual above. A large grove of 50-100 trees is located at the far edge of the field on the outskirts of the wetland area. This can be reached by walking past the tree mentioned above in the same direction, away from t he road, along the edge of the woods to the right, until the field ends and the wetlands area begins. If the first individual was identified, then this grove will be easy to spot from a distance.