Dwarf or Shining SumacRhus copallina

Alex Neumann

Dwarf Sumac ClassificationDwarf/Shining Sumac

Rhus copallina Kingdom Plantae

Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular

Superdivision Spermatophyta Seed Plants

Division Magnoliophyta Flowering Plants

Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons

Subclass Rodidae

Order Sapindales

Family Anacariaceae Sumac Family

Genus Rhus E. Sumac

Species Rhus copallina Dwarf Sumac

Figure 1: Dwarf Sumac Classification Table

Shape, Form, and Type of Tree

• The dwarf Sumac tree is a relatively small tree, about four to ten feet tall.

• Also, it is only about three to eight inches in diameter.

• Because of its small size, this three usually falls under the category of shrub rather than tree.

Figure 2: Dwarf Tree

Bark

• The color of the bark of the Dwarf Sumac tree is generally between gray and light brown.

• Sometime the bark also has tints of red in it.

• When the tree is younger it is very smooth, but as it ages it becomes more scaled and rough. Figure 3: Dwarf Tree Bark

Twig

• The twigs of the Dwarf Sumac, like the bark of the tree, are a brownish color, but are also more obviously tinted.

• These twigs are textured, which means they are not rough, but they are also not very smooth.

Figure 4: Dwarf Tree Twig

Leaf Description

• These leaves are pinnately compounded and are about twelve inches in length.

• Each leaflet carries anywhere from seven to fifteen leaves.

• The top side of the leaf is also substantially darker green than the bottom side, and all the leaves are covered in a layer of fuzz.

Figure 5: Dwarf Tree Leaves

Bud, Fruit, and Flower

• Buds: the buds of the shining sumac are very small in size. They are also covered with a hairy layer much like the leaves. They are rounded and occur in large groups.

• Fruit: the fruit of this tree is a very dark red color. It’s very small, being only one-eighth of an inch long. Another interesting fact about this tree is that the fruit occurs all through the winter.

• Flowers: the flowers of this tree do not bloom until mid to late summer, but when they do, they are a yellowish green color. They are three to five inches wide and occur in large clusters.

Bud, Fruit, and Flower Pictures

Figure 6: Dwarf Sumac Bud Figure 8: Dwarf Sumac Flower

Figure 7: Dwarf Sumac Fruit

Habitat and Range

• This tree is also very adaptable so it can grow in many different places such as on road sides, rocky ridges, in the forest, and in empty fields.

• Do to its adaptability this tree is found all over the United States. It is mainly found in the New England area, down to Florida and Texas, and over through Oklahoma.

Figure 9: Dwarf Sumac Graph

Usage

• This is often used as an oriental tree because it is one of the only sources of food in the winter.

• It is also necessary to the birds, because it is one of the only sources of food during the winter.

• Also because of its denseness, it makes for a good shelter.

Figure 10: Dwarf Sumac tree Branch

Figure References• Figure 1:USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=profile&symbol=RHCO&display=31, 23

June 2010). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.• Figure 2:"southeastern U.S. trees ." Bioimages. Vanderbuilt, n.d. Web. 24 June 2010.

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/r/hrhcol2wpfall-color16684.JPG• Figure 3:"southeastern U.S. trees ." Bioimages. Vanderbuilt, n.d. Web. 24 June 2010.

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/r/hrhcol2br13540.JPG• Figure 4:"southeastern U.S. trees ." Bioimages. Vanderbuilt, n.d. Web. 24 June 2010.

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/r/hrhcol2twpetiole12585.JPG• Figuer 5:"southeastern U.S. trees ." Bioimages. Vanderbuilt, n.d. Web. 24 June 2010.

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/r/hrhcol2lfseveral12580.JPG• Figure 6:"southeastern U.S. trees ." Bioimages. Vanderbuilt, n.d. Web. 24 June 2010.

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/r/hrhcol2flinflor-close13535.JPG• Figure 7:"southeastern U.S. trees ." Bioimages. Vanderbuilt, n.d. Web. 24 June 2010.

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/r/hrhcol2frcloseup15448.JPG• Figure 8: "southeastern U.S. trees ." Bioimages. Vanderbuilt, n.d. Web. 24 June 2010.

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/r/hrhcol2fl54528.jpg• Figure 9USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=RHCO&photoID=rhco_004_ahp.tif, 23 June 2010).

National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.• Figure 10:Shearer, Lee. "Botanists play the mating game with dwarf sumac || OnlineAthens.com." Online Athens | Athens Banner-Herald | Athens, Ga..

Lee Shearer , 15 Feb. 2010. Web. 24 June 2010. <http://onlineathens.com/stories

References• Shape, Form, and Type of Tree:Dwarf Sumac." OPLIN | Ohio Public Library Information Network. Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN), 1

Jan. 2001. Web. 24 June 2010. http://www.oplin.org/tree/fact%20pages/sumac_dwarf/sumac_dwarf.html• Bark: "Rhus copallinum Fact Sheet." College of Natural Resources | Virginia Tech . Department of Forest Resources and

Enviromental Conservation, n.d. Web. 24 June 2010. http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=79

• Twig: "Rhus copallinum Fact Sheet." College of Natural Resources | Virginia Tech . Department of Forest Resources and

Enviromental Conservation, n.d. Web. 24 June 2010. http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=79

• Leaf Description:Dwarf Sumac." OPLIN | Ohio Public Library Information Network. Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN), 1

Jan. 2001. Web. 24 June 2010. http://www.oplin.org/tree/fact%20pages/sumac_dwarf/sumac_dwarf.html• Bud, Fruit, and Flower: "Rhus copallinum Fact Sheet." College of Natural Resources | Virginia Tech . Department of Forest Resources and

Enviromental Conservation, n.d. Web. 24 June 2010. http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=79

• Habitat and Range:USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=RHCO, 23 June 2010). National

Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.• Usage: "Rhus copallinum Fact Sheet." College of Natural Resources | Virginia Tech . Department of Forest Resources and

Enviromental Conservation, n.d. Web. 24 June 2010. http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=79