862 Records

Status

A shrub or small tree that is very common on the Coastal Plain.

Description

Opposite, pinnately compound leaves; rachises have wings 1-5 mm wide between the leaflets, making for easy identification. In winter, note drooping fruit clusters.

Where To Find

Hedgerows and wooded edges in open sun. Common in maritime dune forests, such as at Assateague Island National Seashore. Also occurs in old fields and successional forests.

Relationships

This species and other members of the sumac genus (Rhus) are host plants for the Sumac Flea Beetle. Other beetle species that use Winged Sumac as a host plant include the leaf-rolling weevil Synolabus nigripes (BugGuide).

Winged Sumac is the host plant for the psyllid Calophya nigripennis.

Winged Sumac has been recorded as a host plant for the Red-banded Hairstreak (Databse of World's Lepidopteran Host Plants).

Host plant for various moth species including the Regal Moth, Luna Moth, Variable Antepione Moth, Angle-winged Emerald Moth, Showy Emerald Moth, Red-fronted Emerald Moth, Sumac Leafblotch Miner Moth, Striped Sumac Leafroller Moth, Variegated Cutworm Moth, Yellow-haired Dagger Moth, Smeared Dagger Moth and Spotted Datana Moth (BugGuide & Database of World's Lepidopteran Host Plants).

The moth species Stigmella intermedia causes distinctive leaf mines on the leaves of Winged Sumac.

Winged Sumac is also a winter food source for a variety of bird species.