Endangered Species: FALSE POISON SUMAC / MICHAUX'S SUMAC

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Endangered Species: FALSE POISON SUMAC / MICHAUX'S SUMAC
Publication WSFNR-21-14C

                                                                                                          March 2021

Endangered Species:
FALSE POISON SUMAC / MICHAUX’S SUMAC /
DWARF SUMAC Rhus michauxii (Sumac Family)
Dr. Kim D. Coder, Professor of Tree Biology & Health Care / University Hill Fellow
University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources

         Dwarf sumac is a small shrub, 0.3-1 meter (1-3.3 feet) tall. It grows in clumps.
         Leaves are pinnately compound with 9-13 leaflets. Leaflets have fairly large, coarse teeth evenly
spaced along the leaflet edge. Leaflets are 5-9cm (2-3.5 inches) long and 2-5cm (0.2-2 inches) wide with a
sharp point. Leaves and twigs are heavily covered with trichomes (plant hairs). Many times the end-most
leaflet will have a winged stalk. The rest of the leaflets rest on the leaf stalk.
         Flowers in June. Flowers of different sexes are on different plants. Whole clumps are usually of one
sex only. Flowers are in dense, strongly conical shaped, terminal clusters. Each small flower has 4-5 minute,
greenish-yellow petals. Fruiting is in August and September. Fruit is dark red, very hairy and about 5mm (0.2
inches) in diameter
         Dwarf sumac is found in open, upland woods, along forest edges and maintained right-of-ways. Prefers
more droughty, full sun areas which have limited competition, especially from taller plants. Grows on sandy and
rocky sites and along ridge lines. Requires periodic disturbance of surrounding vegetation for sustainability.
         Figure 1 shows the general distribution of dwarf sumac in the Southeastern United States. This species
is federally listed as an endangered species. It has been found historically near Coastal Plain sandhills and
across the Piedmont in five states. Figure 2 provides a county distribution in Georgia. Photographs are in-
cluded showing this native plant.

     Citation:
                 Coder, Kim D. 2021. Endangered Species: FALSE POISON SUMAC / MICHAUX’S SUMAC /
                 DWARF SUMAC Rhus michauxii (Sumac Family). University of Georgia, Warnell School of
                 Forestry & Natural Resources Outreach Publication WSFNR21-14C. Pp.6.

       The University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources offers educational programs,
      assistance, and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender, or disability.

             The University of Georgia is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action.
Endangered Species: FALSE POISON SUMAC / MICHAUX'S SUMAC
DWARF SUMAC Rhus michauxii -- Dr. Kim D. Coder

                                            WS
                                                             MI
                    SD                                                             PA       NJ

                                     IOWA                                                    DE
                                                                       OH
                                                                                            MY
                      NE                                     IN
                                                   IL                        WV        VA

                                                                   KY
                           KS           MO.                                        NC

                                                             TN
                                                                                  SC
                                            AR
                                OK
                                                                            GA
                                                                  AL
                                                        MS

                                TX
                                              LA
                                                                                       FL

    Figure 1: General distribution in the Southeastern US.

                                                                                                  page 2
Endangered Species: FALSE POISON SUMAC / MICHAUX'S SUMAC
DWARF SUMAC Rhus michauxii -- Dr. Kim D. Coder

                                                  Figure 2: County distribution in Georgia.
DADE       CATOOSA
                                                                                                             TOWNS
                                        LD

                                                                         FANNIN
                                       IE

                                                                                                                              RABUN
                                  TF

                                             MURRAY                                                 UNION
                                 HI
                             W

   WALKER
                                                                 GILMER

                                                                                                                               AM
                                                                                                             WHITE

                                                                                                                              SH
 CHATTOOGA                                                                               LUMPKIN

                                                                                                                          ER
                                  GORDON                                                                                            STEPHENS

                                                                                                                      AB
                                                             PICKENS

                                                                                                                      H
        FLOYD                          BARTOW
                                                          CHEROKEE
                                                                                   DAWSON

                                                                                          R
                                                                                              S   YT
                                                                                                     H
                                                                                                            HALL      BANKS
                                                                                                                                        FRANKLIN
                                                                                                                                                             HART                                                        GEORGIA
                                                                                     FO
                                                                                                                   JACKSON                  MADISON            ELBERT
         POLK
                                                                                                             BARROW
                                                      COBB                           GWINNETT                                 CLARKE               OGLETHORPE
                             PAULDING
                                                                                                                          O
       HARALSON                                                                                                               CO
                                                                                                                                   NE
                                                                                                            WALTON                      E                               WILKES                    LINCOLN
                                                                               DEKALB
                                                                                                     E

                                       DOUGLAS               FULTON
                                                                                                      L
                                                                                                   DA
                                                                                              CK
                                                                             N

         CARROLL
                                                                                          RO
                                                                            Y TO

                                                                                                                     MORGAN                     GREENE

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Mc DU FF IE
                                                                                                                                                                                  O
                                                                                                     NEWTON                                                                  RR                                      COLUMBIA
                                                                                                                                                                        FE
                                                                         CLA
                                                                    E

                                                                                                                                                                  LIA
                                                                    TT

                                                                                   HENRY                                                                       TA
                                                              FAY E

                                   COWETA                                                                                                                                WARREN
         HEARD                                                                                               JASPER           PUTNAM                                                                                    RICHMOND
                                                                         SPALDING             BUTTS                                                     HANCOCK
                                                                                                                                                                                                  O   CK
                                                                                                                                                                                           A   SC
                                                                                                                                                                                      GL
                                                      R
                                                  HE

                                                                     PIKE
                                                 ET

                                                                                                                                    BALDWIN                                                    JEFFERSON                        BURKE
           TROUP
                                             IW

                                                                                   LAMAR MONROE
                                                                                                                    JONES
                                            ER

                                                                                                                                                              WASHINGTON
                                        M

                                                                         UPSON

                                                                                                              BIBB                          WILKINSON                                                                          JENKINS
                            HARRIS
                                                  TALBOT                                                                                                                 JOHNSON                                                           SCREVEN
                                                                                      CRAWFORD
                                                                                                                       TWIGGS

                            MUSCOGEE                                                                                                                                                                                EMANUEL
                                                                         TAYLOR                      PEACH
                                                                                                                                                   Y        LAURENS
                                                                                                                                            K   LE
                                                                                                             HOUSTON                EC
                                  CHATTA-
                                          MARION                                    MACON                                      BL                                                 TREUTLEN                                              BULLOCH
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    EFFINGHAM
                                 HOOCHEE                                                                                                                                                                                 CANDLER
                                                                                                                                                                                                       RY
                                                                                                                                                                                                  GOME

                                                                     SCHLEY
                                                                                                                     PULASKI                    DODGE
                                                                                                          DOOLY                                                                                                                    EVANS
                            STEWART                                                                                                                             WHEELER                                         TOOMBS
                                                                R
                                                                                                                                                                                                 MONT

                                                         S   TE                                                                                                                                                                                  BRYAN
                                                                          SUMTER
                                                      EB                                                                                                                                                                  TATTNALL                          CHATHAM
                                                  W                                                                   WILCOX
                            AN                                                                            CRISP                                             TELFAIR
                   I   TM
               U                                      TERRELL                                                                                                                                                                                LIBERTY
           Q
                                                                                   LEE                                                                                        JEFF
                                 RANDOLPH                                                                                               BEN HILL                              DAVIS                            APPLING
                                                                                                              TURNER                                                                                                                      LONG

                       CLAY                                                                                                         IRWIN
                                            CALHOUN                  DOUGHERTY                                                                                                                   BACON                           WAYNE
                                                                                                     WORTH                                                    COFFEE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 McINTOSH
                                                                                                                     TIFT
                        EARLY                         BAKER
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      PIERCE
                                                                                                                                   BERRIEN
                                                                                                                                                             ATKINSON
                                                                          MITCHELL                                                                                                                                                           GLYNN
                                   MILLER                                                                COLQUITT                                                                                                              BRANTLEY
                                                                                                                       COOK                                                                      WARE
                                                                                                                                                        ER
                                   E

                                                                                                                                                        NI
                                  OL

                                                                                                                                                       LA
                                 MIN

                                             DECATUR                     GRADY                                                                                     CLINCH                                                                 CAMDEN
                                                                                          THOMAS                                    LOWNDES                                                                           CHARLTON
                             SE

                                                                                                               BROOKS

                                                                                                                                                             ECHOLS

                                             Background map from Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                page 3
Endangered Species: FALSE POISON SUMAC / MICHAUX'S SUMAC
DWARF SUMAC Rhus michauxii -- Dr. Kim D. Coder

          Whole plants.               (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder)

                                                                         page 4
Endangered Species: FALSE POISON SUMAC / MICHAUX'S SUMAC
DWARF SUMAC Rhus michauxii -- Dr. Kim D. Coder

                                           Leaves and leaflets.

                                          (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder)

                                                                             page 5
Endangered Species: FALSE POISON SUMAC / MICHAUX'S SUMAC
DWARF SUMAC Rhus michauxii -- Dr. Kim D. Coder

                                                   Flowers.

                                          (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder)

                                                                             page 6
Endangered Species: FALSE POISON SUMAC / MICHAUX'S SUMAC Endangered Species: FALSE POISON SUMAC / MICHAUX'S SUMAC
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