STAPHYLEACEAE

BLADDERNUT FAMILY

James R. Shevock

Perennial, shrubs, trees, some monoecious or dioecious
Leaves generally opposite, pinnately compound; leaflets generally toothed; stipules 0 or paired
Inflorescence: panicle or raceme, drooping
Flowers small, radial; sepals 5, free or fused at base, often petal-like; petals 5, free; stamens 5, alternate petals, often attached to nectary-disk; ovary superior, chambers 2–4, each with 1–12 ovules in 2 rows
Fruit: generally inflated capsule with open top, sometimes follicles, drupe, or berry
Seeds generally 1–2 per chamber
Genera in family: 5 genera, ± 50 species: n temp, Asia, C.Am, South America.; some cultivated for showy fruit (Staphylea ) or used for timber (Turpinia ).

STAPHYLEA

BLADDERNUT

Perennial, shrub, trees
Leaves deciduous, opposite; leaflets generally 3
Inflorescence: panicle
Flower: petals white or pink
Fruit: capsule, inflated, bladdery, deeply 3-lobed, pendent
Seeds spheric, light brown
Species in genus: 10 species: n temp
Etymology: (Greek: cluster, from inflorescence)

Native

S. bolanderi A. Gray

SIERRA BLADDERNUT

Shrub, small tree, 2–6 m, glabrous
Leaf: leaflets 3, 2.5–6 cm, widely ovate to round, finely serrate
Inflorescence generally appearing before or with leaves
Flower: sepals 8–10 mm, white; petals 10–12 mm, white; stamens well exserted
Fruit 2.5–5 cm, prominently horned, greatly inflated
Seeds 5–7 mm, ± obovoid, light brown, smooth
Ecology: Uncommon. Wooded or shrubby slopes
Elevation: 300–1400 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada
Horticultural information: DRN, IRR: 1, 6, 15, 16, 17 &SHD: 7, 14, 18.