Late for its Deciduous Date

This young, blushing shiny sumac (Rhus copallinaum) was photographed in the scrubby pine flatwoods at Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area (on the north side of Oslo Road) surprisingly on January 31, 2015. Shiny sumac is supposed to be deciduous and provides a show of Florida fall color.

Also commonly called winged sumac, this cold-hardy plant ranges from Maine to Texas. You will find it growing in sunny, sandy places at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area on both sides of the road.

A member of the Anacaridaceae (cashew) family along with poison ivy and mangoes, shiny sumac reportedly does not cause skin irritation. It can grow to be a small tree, as shown here with Maggie Taylor (Class of 2004) for scale …

Shiny sumac bears tiny fruits in the late summer that are attractive to wildlife and can bring fall color to your landscape. Bear in mind, though, that this plant does sucker …