Orange-red fruits are 1/2 in., flattened, sticky and sparsely hairy (Poison Oak has white berries). San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA 6-29-11. © Peter J. Bryant

Skunkbush (Squaw Bush, Skunkbrush, Basketbush, Sourberry, Three-leaf Sumac)

Rhus aromatica (=Rhus trilobata)

.A 3 1/2 to 5 ft. tall deciduous shrub with short, stiff branches, found occasionally in canyon bottoms and slopes in coastal sage scrub and oak woodland in the Santa Ana Mountains (Roberts).  Plants dioecious or bisexual and pistillate (JM2). Native Americans ground the fruit into a dry powder to brew into tea, or to make a lotion for treating smallpox (Nancy Dale).  Twigs were used in basket-making. Flowering March- April.

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San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA 6-29-11. © Peter J. Bryant
The terminal leaflet is deeply notched sometimes making the leaf appear 5-lobed. This plant is not poisonous. San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA 7-11-10. © Joan Avise

San Mateo Canyon, nr Fisherman's Camp, 9-5-11. © Ron Vanderhoff.
Holy Jim Trail to Santiago Pk, 11-27-11. © Ron Vanderhoff.

Compound leaves of Rhus aromatica (left) are 3-lobed, resembling Poison Oak, Toxicodendron diversilobum (right), but the middle leaflet lacks a distinct petiole (stalk) which poison oak always has. Leaves are not glossy like poison oak, and stems are downy compared to poison oak's which are hairless.  Crushed leaves have a pungent odor while poison oak is odorless. Upper Trabuco Cyn., Trabuco Trail, 7-4-12. © Ron Vanderhoff.

San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA 7-18-10. © Joan Avise
Thomas E. Riley Wilderness Park, Coto de Caza, Orange County, CA. 6-2-07. © Joan Avise

Bearpaw Ranch, Forest Falls, San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernarino Co., CA 8-4-11. © Joan Avise
W Horsethief Tr to Main Divide, 4-24-11. © Ron Vanderhoff.

New leaves appear in early spring, after the yellowish-green flower clusters at the terminal end of a stem are in full bloom.  Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise
Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise

Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise
Flowers have 5 yellow petals, a 5-cleft calyx (sepals yellow-green to red). Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise

Elsinore Pk., .5 mi WSW, 4-1-12. © Ron Vanderhoff.