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.

Staphylea trifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Crossosomatales
Family: Staphyleaceae
Genus: Staphylea
Species:
S. trifolia
Binomial name
Staphylea trifolia

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]

References

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  1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2018). "Staphylea trifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T135957125A135957127. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T135957125A135957127.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "​Staphylea trifolia​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Tenaglia, Dan. "Staphylea trifolia page". Missouri Plants. Missouri Botanical Garden.
  4. ^ Brouillet, Luc (2014). "Staphylea trifolia". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 9. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  5. ^ "Staphylea trifolia".