By San Juan Diego Catholic High School Intern Emily Vasquez
Image Credit: St. Edward's University Intern Dom Troiani
As seasons change and nature slows down, you may come to find a change of color in the foliage. In particular to our area, you can find the shining sumac, most commonly known as the flame-leaf sumac. In mid to late fall, the leaves transition from green, to yellow, to orange, to a fiery red before turning brown.
Here are some fun facts to get to know the species:
-Native Americans used the fruit from the tree to make sumac lemonade.
-The fruit can also be used as a spice for food.
-Flame-leaf sumac is part of the cashew family. They can either be shrubs or trees, growing between 20 to 35 feet in height.
-Sumac leaves can be used as a source of black ink. The pigment is first extracted from the tree bark and is typically used for coloring.
-Turn from green to red in the fall, giving it the name flame-leaf.
-More than 30 bird species feed on the fruit and aid in dispersing the seeds throughout North America.
-Unlike its close relative, poison sumac, flame-leaf sumac is not poisonous. You can identify the difference because poison sumac has grey and white berries that hang down, while flame-leaf sumac has pyramidal clusters of red berries.
-Attracts many birds and bees in the summer time.
