HERB - Re:Sumac, was Herb-sic

[Ted Kubricht]

Hi Katherine,

As far as my resources indicate, poison sumac only grows in swampy, boggy
areas from along the Gulf Coast through the Appalachians to Canada,
including the damp Northern states.   There is no mention of any in CA
although I suppose someone may have transplanted some to a similar type
habitat there.   Poison sumac does not have red berries, rather greenish
white or grayish ones.   The only parts of the many varieties of sumac
considered useful for food are the red berries, used for lemonade-like teas.

All varieties except poison sumac are listed as having edible berries, there
is no mention of poisonous properties with these.   Poison sumac sap has
been used as a fine varnish, as has that of several of the other types of
sumac.   The American Indians used poison sumac as a medicinal herb, but all
parts of the plant are considered poisonous, even more so than poison oak or
ivy, causing a contact dermatitus.   I have been told that the plant is
fairly rare, found only in extremely wild and inaccessible areas.   I've
been looking for it around here and haven't seen any yet.   The plant was
originally classified under the genus name Rhus, same as the other sumacs,
but has been changed to genus Toxicodendron grouping it with poison ivy and
oak.   All are considered to be in the Anacardiaceae family.   I would think
that the red berry varieties are ok, but would avoid sumacs if you have a
problem with allergies of any sort.

In fine Spirit,
Vaclav


----- Original Message -----
From: Katherine Blackthorne <kblackthorne at midtown.net>
To: <herbalist at Ansteorra.ORG>
Sent: Friday, August 13, 1999 5:57 PM
Subject: HERB - Re:Sumac, was Herb-sic


> CAUTION WITH AMERICAN SUMAC!!
>
> My first year in college, I hit the library, looked up "herbs", and
> browsed through lots of what I found.  One of the things I found was an
> article on Sumac which I read with interest.  (I live in CA, where we
> have a plant with an extremely superficial resemblence to the poison
> sumac I grew up with in NY.  Californians didn't understand why I always
> drew away from this harmless bush...)  The article was very interesting.
>
> Aparently, all kinds of American Sumac (there are several varieties, one
> edible) were once used for boot-black.  They made a beautiful shiny
> finish.  Many people were poisoned from handling this boot-black,
> because "poison sumac" instead of the other kind was accidentally used.
> In addition, there were many cases of poisoning from ingesting the wrong
> kind of sumac.  These invariably required immediate hospitalization, and
> sometimes resulted in death.
>
> Where I grew up, we knew that both kinds existed, but literally no one I
> knew was brave enough to risk getting them confused.
>
> Please, be careful with American Sumac.
>
> --Katherine Blackthorne
> Golden Rivers, Cynagua, The West
>


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