Look at this stag horn sumac, hairy as all get out…

hairy through the winter to reflect the winter sun and prevent scald and drying out …

…and hairy in the spring to reflect heat, keep insects and deer away…

… and, as the summer cooks along into fall, keep smoke from plugging up the plumbing.

Of course, the petals aren’t hairy, that would never do.

These hairs are called trichomes.

Unlike human hair, they are alive. Well done, sumac! Whoa, whoa, whoa, what’s this?

Trichomes Catching Water (and a second atmosphere) Over the Stomata of Big Sage

And a hand to big sage, too, if you will.