all roads lead to sumac

I picked this brach today, above all the others, because of the way the over-wintered thistle fluff was sticking to the branch and catching the spring light, illuminating the branch like a lit up florescent tube.  I had assumed the fluff was sticking, because the sap had started to run and the branch would be tacky to the touch. To my surprise, it was not, it was velvety to the touch. Which made me realize I had once again unwittingly picked sumac. Interestingly, staghorn sumac got it’s name because “the branches are rough like antlers in velvet”.

staghorn sumac branch in velvet with very early spring buds (Rhus typhina)