Staghorn sumac berries may be made into a refreshing, medicinal drink.  Rough off the berries, then put them in a pair of clean panty hose or a clean white cotton sock.  Bring water to a boil, then dip the sock full of berries into the water until you have achieved the desired tartness (see sumac).

Rhus typhina L. (Rhus hirta) Family: Anacardiaceae: Staghorn sumac.

Personal experience: Sumac berries dried, crushed and powdered make a wonderful spice. Kurdish cuisine utilizes sumac berries in much of their cooking. Try it sprinkled on a salad of Feta cheese, sliced cucumbers, green peppers and onions moistened with olive oil, garlic and a light vinegar. Also, delicious with lamb, chicken, fish and beef. Use with pepper or as a pepper substitute. Integral to most stir fry dishes.

Fragrant Sumac, Rhus aromatica Ait.  left=fruit; right=compound Poison Ivy like leaf.
Native American Uses: Dried leaves used as a tobacco substitute or smoked blended with tobacco.  Berries used as food and medicine: fruit was crushed and eaten; berries used as ceremonial medicine.  Roots used externally and internally, internally to stem diarrhea, externally to treat boils.
Winged or Dwarf sumac; Rhus copallina L.   Edible Fruit.

Note:   photo below, winged leave stalks of winged sumac.

Important food for wildlife especially seeds for game birds and song birds;  young shoots foraged by deer.

Leaves and bark may be used for tanning hides.
"Wings" of winged sumac.
Smooth sumac, Rhus glabra L. 

Wild Food:  Native Americans and others have eaten the new shoots (peeled and eaten), berries (as fruit or tea, sweetened drink).

Below left:  Note winged leaves

 
Native AmericanMedicine:  Root: in decoction for diarrhea and dysentery; in decoction for urinary tract pain;

Berries: eaten as an emetic (purgative); berry infusion over burns, bites and stings; same infusion over sunburn; used in rituals.

Bark:  In decoction externally for blisters, burns; infusion said to be a lactagogue (promote milk flow in mothers); decoction for diarrhea, dysentery; inner bark astringent, styptic. Used in rituals.

Leaves: therapeutic smoke usually mixed with tobacco; in cold maceration for dermatitis; leave latex used on wounds, sore (external).

Flowers:  used for brushing teeth (with dogwood stick brush) and mouth sores; in decoction