The staghorn sumac is a small tree that commonly grows in large groups in the wild.  It is often used by landscapers as a decorative addition to residential yards and municipal parks.  Its common name is derived from the fact that the branches are covered by dense, extremely soft hairs, and resemble the "velvet" on a deer?s antlers.  As well as being decorative, the trees are a source of seeds for both songbirds and gamebirds during cold Canadian winters.  Historically, Native American Indians made a drink from the plant?s crushed fruit.  The tannin-rich bark and leaves also provided tanneries with a natural tanning agent. It is interesting to note that a sumac tree is either male or female, but not both.  This trait is referred to as ? dioecious ?. The ?Male? Sumac Tree The image below shows part of a male tree.  The yellow-green pyramidal structure at the center of the image is called a panicle , and consists of many tiny flowers. Sumac leaves are compound, and the toothed leaflets are positioned on the stem opposite one another. A high magnification reveals the multitude of tiny white hairs that cover the stems.  It is these hairs that give the plant its common name ?staghorn?. The toothed edges of a leaf are clearly visible below.  Notice in the image of the back of a leaf, that the sturdy white rib has many tiny hairs on its surface. In June and July, the male sumac trees are covered with panicles