Staghorn Sumac 

Small tree or large shrub with deciduous pinnately compound leaves with brown velvety-hairy branches that form antler-like silhouettes. The flowers are tiny, white in clusters on densely hairy stalks with tiny round drupe fruit.

Location: If you are on the Mount Aloysius campus, this tree is across from McAuley Hall dorm rooms, and it is at the top of the road from the pond.

Distribution: Native to Eastern North America. 

Uses: This plant is often grown as an ornamental, which is because of its vibrant fall foliage and striking fruit. The berries are very prominent on this plant; it is very hard to miss. They’re also a favorite food for many bird species. An orange dye can be made from the inner bark, while the roots produce a yellow dye. Indigenous peoples traditionally used the crushed fruit to make a lemonade-like drink. The fruit is rich in tannins, which gives it an astringent taste when unripe. Both the leaves and the fruit have also been used to create black ink.