The Trees at Keele
Bladdernut Staphylea pinnata
As a native to parts of SE Europe and western Asia, it grows as a large shrub or small tree to 5m. It is popular in cultivation for its panicles of fragrant, white flowers with light pink stripes. They are followed by fruit hidden in inflated capsules. The hard, spherical seeds have been used for making necklaces and even beads.
The leaves are pinnate, composed of 5-7 individual leaflets of mid-green colour with slightly blue-grey underneath 5-12cm long and 2-5cm wide.
Location: One specimen in the Special Collection next to the Memorial Garden; square K11; tag 0030.