Staphylea pinnata, the European bladdernut,[1] is a species of bladdernut native to Europe and naturalized in Britain.[2]

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

Description

edit

It is a deciduous shrub growing up to 6 m (20 ft).[3] The species name pinnata refers to the pinnate leaves.[4] Small, white, bell-shaped, fragrant flowers[1] bloom from May to June,[2] on panicles up to 13 cm (5.1 in) long.[1] The flowers are bisexual and pollinated by flies.[2] The fruits are inflated papery capsules, 2-3 lobed, up to 4 cm (1.6 in) long,[1] ripening from September to November. The seeds are edible, and are said to taste like pistachios.[2]

Cultivation

edit

Staphylea pinnata can be grown in full sun to partial shade, and tolerates a variety of soils. It is hardy in zones 6–8.[1] It has low drought tolerance.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e Missouri Botanical Garden—Staphylea pinnata
  2. ^ a b c d Plants for a Future—Staphylea pinnata
  3. ^ a b Plant Database—Staphylea pinnata
  4. ^ Heiss, Andreas G.; Filipovic, Dragana; Nedelcheva, Anely; Ruß-Popa, Gabriela; Wanninger, Klaus; Schramayr, Georg; Perego, Renata; Jacomet, Stefanie (October 2014). "A Fistful of Bladdernuts: The Shifting Uses of Staphylea pinnata L. as Documented by Archaeology, History, and Ethnology" (pdf). Folk Life. 52 (2): 95–136. doi:10.1179/0430877814Z.00000000031. S2CID 163022862. Retrieved 17 August 2015.