Protection and enhancement of Michaux's sumac colonies is among the highest priority land management issues for the base. The Fort Pickett biologists will play a critical role in understanding the factors contributing to the success of this population. Michaux's sumac prefers sunny habitats and cannot tolerate shade. Because it favors open areas, such as fire-maintained plant communities, this species is widely distributed throughout firing ranges and impact areas at Fort Pickett. Michaux's sumac does occur in other habitats at Fort Pickett, especially in areas where disturbance has been moderate to severe, but it is only within these two principal communities that colonies reach appreciable size.
Sexual reproduction does occur but is limited by the distribution of male and female plants.
Of the 27 colonies examined during a recent study at Fort Pickett, plants containing male and female flowers occurred in only nine. Of these nine, seven were in the mockernut hickory-black oak community. Because preliminary data suggest that sexual reproduction of Michaux's sumac is more commonplace in this plant community, management for genetic diversity of this species should focus on identification, protection, and enhancement of appropriate mockernut hickory-black oak habitats. Colonies that depend on rhizomatous or clonal reproduction expand when some sort of activity opens up the habitat. The two main factors contributing to rhizomatous reproduction are fires and physical disturbance of the soil.