Talk:Rhus glabra

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[edit] Stumbling Block

According to Seeds of woody plants in the United States, the fruit of Rhus glabra ripens in September to October. The fruit of Rhus typhina ripens from June to September. The photographs in the article are of fruit ripening in June, therefore, the plants must be Rhus typhina, not Rhus Glabra.

U.S. Forest Service Handbook
Table 2 tells when fruit ripens
Table 2 tells when fruit ripens

Accordingly, the article is in need of an "UNSOURCED" tag.Velocicaptor 02:00, 13 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Handbook No. 450

Published by the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service division, Handbook No. 450 contains explanations which caused me to delete my editions of June 10th to June 12th, 2007. Velocicaptor 11:11, 13 June 2007 (UTC)

Rhus typhina and Rhus trilobata fruit are shown
Rhus typhina and Rhus trilobata fruit are shown

Rhus typhina (or staghorn sumac) is ripening, now, in June. I may place some photographs into the Rhus typhina article. I am avoiding any Rhus glabra edits. I have learned my lesson.

I reverted the Rhus glabra page to an April 26th, 2007, version. Velocicaptor 11:45, 13 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Can be mistaken for Poison sumac

It seemed rather a bad idea to suggest that Smooth sumac is unlikely to be confused with other plants, particularly since it is actually easily confused with 'poison' sumac, and may be found in mixed populations of glabra / vernix / typhina. In the absence of flowers or fruit (which will not be present on young plants) it can be impossible for a layperson to distinguish smooth sumac from poison sumac without approaching close enough for an allergic reaction to be triggered in those sensitive to poison sumac. (The volatile oil which causes allergic reactions to poison sumac can easily spread to neighbouring plants in underbrush and edge conditions where sumacs are often found, due to the movement of humans, other animals, or even wind through thickets, and thus direct contact with an actual poison sumac plant is not always necessary for allergic reactions to occur.) the Jack (not logged in)69.183.244.54 12:02, 23 June 2007 (UTC)