Yep, Skunkbush Sumac, thanks!

Just tried a few berries too - not really sour as advertised, but a bit tart and with a little black peppery kick at the end. Quite tasty in fact, just quite small (about the size of a BB) with a large, flat seed inside - so not much to munch on there, lol.

Haven't tried crushing a leaf for its signature foul, stinky scent yet...but will test that next time, too!

you tried the berries AFTER the ID .. i hope .. i would miss all your posts ...

ken

Yes thanks, of course, lol!

The only close call I've had so far was when I picked some berries off a Rusty Blackhaw and popped one in my mouth. After chewing it a bit though, I noticed the seed inside seemed different than usual. So, I looked more closely and realized that I had accidentally picked a berry off a Virginia Creeper vine that had entwined itself up on the branch. The 2 berries actually look very similar in color and size (Rusty Blackhaw vs Virginia Creeper). Except that the first is quite edible and the latter is quite toxic (sometimes even fatal)! Fortunately - I had immediately spit it out and suffered no ill effects (since I didn't actually swallow any of it).

But, I did learn a good lesson in foraging - to always check what you are actually picking!

Anyways, I went back yesterday to smash & sniff some of these Skunkbush Sumac leaves and sample a few more berries. And this time, the berries did live up to their online rep! They definitely packed a strong, sour punch - and were less peppery too. Maybe because I had tasted these fresh (I didn't try the others until I first researched them after I got home), or the other ones were just "duds?" I don't know? Yet they weren't puckeringly, acidicly sour either...but somehow still pleasant-tasting like sweetarts. Although I wouldn't describe them as sweet at all...just that somehow their sourness seemed a little offset by something.

As far as the leaves went - I crushed one up and didn't smell any foul aroma. It did emit a fairly strong, "herby, planty" smell...unlike many leaves that have no odor at all. But it wasn't stinky. So, I was admittedly a bit disappointed - and may have to try another sample again later, lol.

Smell sounds more like fragrant sumac (R. aromatica) instead of the skunkbush (trilobata) subspecies. They overlap/intergrade in Texas.

^ Well, I would say the round-lobed leaves definitely resemble Rhus trilobata rather than Rhus aromatica, though..

Although I'm not sure why the crushed leaves didn't stink as advertised? I will try to test them again, later... ;)

Can't reliably distinguish these by leaf shape.... too much variation. Here's our R. aromatica's lobed leaves: