Another plant ID challenge: Solved, Bladdernut

[Dodgy Loner]

This probably won't be difficult if you've seen it before, but it's quite uncommon and most people have never seen it.

The leaves:


More leaves:


The bark:

[Texas Ranger]

Staphylea trifolia

[Dodgy Loner]

Wow, that was quick .  How common is it in your neck of the woods?

[Texas Ranger]

Not very, surprised it is in your neck of the woods, more northernly to my knowledge.

[Dodgy Loner]

It supposedly is native throughout the GA Piedmont and mountains, but I've only seen it growing wild twice, both times in Athens.  This is a planted specimen.

[SPIKER]

I didn't know what it was but we have a lot of it growing wild around our area.  bushy shrub at best 6~8' high in some areas.

mark M

[Dodgy Loner]

Occasionally, it does reach small tree size, but more often it's a large shrub.

[Texas Ranger]

Growing in Ohio, and the mountains in Georgia, like I said, a yankee plant.

[Dodgy Loner]

Them's fightin' words, my friend!  :D :D :D

...By the way, Athens ain't in the mountains ;)

[WDH]

Those Texans think yankees are anywhere north, east, and west of them.  They suffer from the "Myth of Central Position" ;D.

[Dodgy Loner]

Once they start calling the folks to the south of them yankees, we'll know that they've really lost their marbles :.

[WDH]

Just wait, it will happen in a minute :.

[Texas Ranger]

I was making reference to the need of a cooler clime for this particular plant, Yankee from Ohio (cool temperature) and mountains of Georgia (cooler at elevation), them Georgia boys came in with Tennessee boys to ward off an invasion.  Like the man said, all be southren.

[WDH]

It is all becoming clear now, TR :D.