Staphylea trifolia | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Crossosomatales |
Family: | Staphyleaceae |
Genus: | Staphylea |
Species: | S. trifolia
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Binomial name | |
Staphylea trifolia | |
Staphylea trifolia, the American bladdernut, [2] is native to eastern North America, from southern Ontario and southwestern Quebec west to Nebraska and Arkansas, and south to Florida. It is sometimes used as an ornamental plant.
It is a medium-sized shrub growing to 3.5 m (11 ft) tall. [3] Its growth rate is medium to fast.[ citation needed] The leaves are opposite and divided into three leaflets, each leaflet 4.5–13 cm (2–5 in) long [4] and 5 cm (2 in) broad, with a serrated margin. [3] The leaves are bright green in the spring, turning dark green in the summer. S. trifolia produces pendant white flowers in spring, which mature into bladder-like, teardrop-shaped fruits that contain 1-3 brown popcorn-like seeds. [3] Some sources consider these "nuts" to be edible. [5]