Wood Atlas - Xylarium
Staghorn Sumac
The staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) originally comes from North America, but has made itself at home in Europe since 1620. It is deciduous and usually only grows to about 20 feet at the most. Occasional specimens up to twice as high have been found, but never with a diameter of more than 14 inches. The staghorn sumac was considered a medicinal plants by some tribes of Native Americans: the roots were used to clot blood, the fruit helped treat diseases of the lungs, and the tea from the inner bark of root relieved “internal complaints”. The fruit is also used to make a refreshing drink called “Indian Lemonade”, which has a very high vitamin C content.
The wood is soft, light, and somewhat brittle. It is still very workable and is mainly used in cabinetmaking.