What Is It?

[Dean_Gretsch]

A yummy pastry filling or confectionary masterpiece?

Nope, but some people know how to make a tea from it! It is the bloom of a Staghorn Sumac.

 

[Jeff15]

Strange looking plant......

 

[Ron Evers]

Looks to be filled with maggots.

 

[Dean_Gretsch]

Strange looking plant......

The bloom turns a deep red.

Looks to be filled with maggots.

Nope, no maggots there.

 

[Amocholes]

When the bloom turns dark red and stains your fingers, boil it in water. Strain it and add sugar to taste. Good hot or as an iced tea. The juice is kind of tart on it's own.

 

[Dean_Gretsch]

When the bloom turns dark red and stains your fingers, boil it in water. Strain it and add sugar to taste. Good hot or as an iced tea. The juice is kind of tart on it's own.

Yeah, they were showing that on a local outdoors show. I always thought Sumac was poison

 

[snowbear]

When the bloom turns dark red and stains your fingers, boil it in water. Strain it and add sugar to taste. Good hot or as an iced tea. The juice is kind of tart on it's own.

Yeah, they were showing that on a local outdoors show. I always thought Sumac was poison

There are different sumacs -- poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) has the same stuff (urushiol) as poison ivy, it has white/grey berries. Staghorn sumac (rhus typhina) is not closely related to the bad stuff. The red/pink berries have a lemon-like flavor.