Other common names:
American Bladdernut French names:
Staphylier à trois folioles Family: Bladdernut Family (Staphyleaceae) Distinctive features: Shrub; The "bladders", which are the fruits. 3-part opposite compound leaves. Similar species: • Hop Tree (Ptelea trifoliata) - leaflets are stalked. • Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii) - has alternate leaves. Flowers: Spring, Summer; White, Yellow; 5 parts (petals) Leaves: Opposite/Whorled, Compound, Toothed; Opposite, compound (3 leaflets). Height:
3-5 m (9-16 ft) Trunk:
Striped. Fruit/Seeds:
Ususual "bladders" contain the seeds. Habitat: Forests, Fields and Open Areas; Rocky woods, river banks. Grows in Sun/Shade:
Sun Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 318 Shrubs of Ontario: 295 Native/Non-native:
Native Status:
common.
Origin and Meaning of Names:
Scientific Name: trifolia: three-leaved For more information visit: Ontario Trees and Shrubs Photographs:
82 photographs available, of which 14 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
This is the unusual fruit that gives this plant its name. The papery "bladder" contains 1-4 pale brown hard seeds. They come loose later in the fall when ripe and rattle around inside.
A string of bladders along a branch.
Bladdernut flowers.
Spring flowers (early June).
View of Bladdernut flower looking up into the flower itself.
Typical Bladdernut leaf.
Bladdernut leaves.
The compound leaf (opposite pattern along the stems).
Edge of a Bladdernut leaf.
A bladder left over from the previous year. Spring flowers of this plant (in early June) are visible in the background.
The trunk of Bladdernut has a striped pattern to it.
Bladdernut buds in April.
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