Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhina

Sumac is a small, fast-growing and pretty tree which is common to many parts of America. Its most distinctive feature is its bright red fruit clusters, which are present during most of the summer months. While the fruit clusters, which consist of thousands of extremely tiny, furry berries, are terribly sour and not very attractive to humans for food, birds and insects find them delicious. In the early part of the season, the Staghorn Sumac differs from its sister-plant, Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabrous), in only one respect; the branches of Staghorn Sumac are covered in a soft velvety coating, much like the antlers of a stag, while the branches of Smooth Sumac are, well... smooth.