Photos: Foothills Parkway 102107 (tree, Indians, road)

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by LauraC

Are the leaves normally curly and droopy on the sumac? I was attributing it to lack of water but I'm thinking maybe that's just the kind of leaves the sumac has.

I might say they're normally a little droopy, but not really curly. From the photo it looks like even the clusters of berries aren't the normal color. It's hard to tell from a photo however.

Supposedly the berries of the sumac can be make into a beverage. We never did that so I have no idea how it tastes (awful is my guess).

[gemkeeper]

Originally Posted by alleycat

I might say they're normally a little droopy, but not really curly. From the photo it looks like even the clusters of berries aren't the normal color. It's hard to tell from a photo however.

Supposedly the berries of the sumac can be make into a beverage. We never did that so I have no idea how it tastes (awful is my guess).

There are 8 different species of sumac common to E. US. They each have their own characteristic leaf structure. As a kid I often came down with an itchy, nasty case of sumac poisoning like poison ivy.

Birds love the fruit, but I would do a bit of research before making a beverage from it. You might get itchy and nasty, alleycat!

Some info on sumac found in this region:
Sumac - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[alleycat]

I believe we mostly have staghorn sumac in Tennessee (at least in Middle Tennnessee, I'm not sure about East Tennessee). That's what Laura's photos were of, as far as I can tell, and what I was referring to.

But I wasn't actually suggesting anyone make a beverage out of any of the things.

[gemkeeper]

Originally Posted by alleycat

I believe we mostly have staghorn sumac in Tennessee (at least in Middle Tennnessee, I'm not sure about East Tennessee). That's what Laura's photos were of, as far as I can tell, and what I was referring to.

But I wasn't actually suggesting anyone make a beverage out of any of the things.

I knew that you weren't suggesting a tasty beverage, alleycat. Just pulling your leg a little.

I think the staghorn is what we had around my childhood home in the mts. of PA. Shenandoah might know.

It certainly is beautiful in the fall with the brilliant red foliage.

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by gemthornton

It certainly is beautiful in the fall with the brilliant red foliage.

Yeah, that's about the only time a sumac gets any respect around here. The rest of the time they're bush-hogged without a thought. Ditto sassafras.

[gemkeeper]

Originally Posted by alleycat

Yeah, that's about the only time a sumac gets any respect around here. The rest of the time they're bush-hogged without a thought. Ditto sassafras.

Yum, sassafras. Now, that does make a tasty tea. I don't remember how my dad used to brew it though. Most probably the leaves. And, why doesn't sassafras get any respect, alleycat? Is it considered a weed or an invasive plant around here?

What is bush-hogged (asked the Yankee)? It doesn't sound like it is anything good.

[kamoshika]

Originally Posted by alleycat

Supposedly the berries of the sumac can be make into a beverage. We never did that so I have no idea how it tastes (awful is my guess).

Actually, it's quite delicious & very simple to make. I made several quarts last summer & everyone who tried it really liked it. The flavor of sumac-ade, AKA Indian lemonade, is suggestive of pink lemonade with a slightly exotic twist. Good article here:
Sumac: The wild lemonade berry by Sam Thayer from the July/August, 2003 issue of Countryside & Small Stock Journal

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by gemthornton

Yum, sassafras. Now, that does make a tasty tea. I don't remember how my dad used to brew it though. Most probably the leaves. And, why doesn't sassafras get any respect, alleycat? Is it considered a weed or an invasive plant around here?

What is bush-hogged (asked the Yankee)? It doesn't sound like it is anything good.

You use the roots to make sassafras tea. Sassafras is a tree but the wood isn't good for much (you can use it as low-grade firewood, that's about all). The young sassafras trees used to be used for bean poles in the south since they grew straight and were about the right height and size.

If someone has a farm field that they let go, about the first trees to show up around here with be sassafras, hackberry, sumac, and eastern red cedar. Left alone long enough and the native oaks, poplars and other hardwoods will take over.

Bushog (or bushhog) is actually a brand name but it has become a verb for a type of mowing. A bushhog is a large mower mounted on the back of a tractor; it's heavy-duty. Farmer use it to keep their fields in order while they're not being used for crop, or if they want to clear a new field. A bushhog will chop up a tree with a diameter of an inch or more (or if you a reckless young lad . . . a tree with a diameter over two inches . . . but your dad will fuss at you for doing it . . . hear the voice of experience?).

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by kamoshika

Actually, it's quite delicious & and very simple to make. I made several quarts last summer & everyone who tried it really liked it. The flavor of sumac-ade, AKA Indian lemonade, is suggestive of pink lemonade with a slightly exotic twist. Good article here:
Sumac: The wild lemonade berry by Sam Thayer from the July/August, 2003 issue of Countryside & Small Stock Journal

The Indians also mixed the leaves of the sumac with their tobacco. Why? Beats me.

Don't tell Governor Bredesen . . . he'll want to tax sumacs.

[gemkeeper]

Thanks for all of the information, alleycat and kamoshika. So, there really is a tea made from sumac.

I wonder who that reckless young man was with the bushog? Hmmmm.

Has anyone else had sumac or sassafras tea? We also had tea made from teaberries. It tasted just like teaberry gum if you are old enough to remember that!