Winged Sumac

Description:

The first photo shows the narrow "wings" on the stem, between the leaves, that give Winged Sumac its name. Small tree native to the eastern half of the U.S. Produces clusters of berries that don't fall. Winter food source for birds, squirrels, rabbits and deer ... who eat several parts of the plant.

Notes:

Also called Shining Sumac.

From the Encyclopedia of Life:

The fruiting head is a compact cluster of round, red, hairy fruits called drupes. Each drupe measures ¼ inch in diameter and contains one seed. Each cluster of drupes may contain 100 to 700 seeds. Fruit is produced on plants 3 to 4 years old. The germination of sumac seeds is enhanced by their passage through the digestive system of rabbits, ring-necked pheasants and quail.

Sumac serves primarily as a winter emergency food for wildlife. Ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and about 300 species of songbirds include sumac fruit in their diet. It is also known to be important only in the winter diets of ruffed grouse and the sharp-tailed grouse. Fox squirrels and cottontail rabbits eat the sumac bark. White-tail deer like the fruit and stems.