Winged Sumac Rhus copallinum Linnaeus var. copallinum    Synonyms: Dwarf Sumac, Flameleaf Sumac, Rhus copallinum var. latifolia, Rhus copallinum var. leucantha, Shining Sumac.
Kingdom Plantae   >   Division Tracheophyta   >   Class Magnoliopsida   >   Order Sapindales   >   Family Anacardiaceae   >   Genus Rhus   

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.

There are 728 records in the project database.

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Winged Sumac in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/22/2011). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/26/2022). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac flowering on Assateague Island, Maryland (8/19/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Howard Co., Maryland (8/27/2014). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Kent Co., Maryland (9/13/2013). Photo by Nancy Martin. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Caroline Co., Maryland (8/10/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/16/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Howard Co., Maryland (8/25/2012). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac blooming in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/20/2013). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac growing in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/9/2017). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac blooming in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/1/2018). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/17/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (8/15/2015). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Worcester Co., Maryland (11/14/2015). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Caroline Co., Maryland (7/4/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Kent Co., Maryland (7/5/2016). Photo by Nancy Martin. (MBP list)

The trunk of a Winged Sumac in Worcester Co., Maryland (2/23/2013). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

The pubescent branches of Winged Sumac in Worcester Co., Maryland (2/23/2013). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Caroline Co., Maryland (9/1/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

A large Winged Sumac branch on Assateague Island, Worcester Co., Maryland (2/20/2016). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Caroline Co., Maryland (8/23/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac at Fort Smallwood Park, Maryland (10/20/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Wicomico Co., Maryland (10/20/2012). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac (winter aspect) in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (1/15/2016). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac (winter aspect) in Baltimore Co., Maryland (12/31/2015). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/26/2017). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

A Winged Sumac branch in winter in Worcester Co., Maryland (2/20/2016). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/22/2016). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/30/2016). Photo by Elizabeth Miller. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (10/4/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Caroline Co., Maryland (11/1/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/31/2020). (c) johnbotany, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by John Hall. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Talbot Co., Maryland (12/6/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Caroline Co., Maryland (8/21/2021). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac hosting a Brown Thrasher on Assateague Island, Maryland (1/1/2014). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

Winged Sumac in Dorchester Co., Maryland (1/28/2017). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)


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