Staphylea

Bladdernut ( Staphylea pinnata ), illustration

The Pimpernüsse ( Staphylea ) are a genus of flowering plants in the family of Pimpernussgewächse ( Staphyleaceae ).

Description

The Staphylea species are woody plants that grow as deciduous shrubs or small trees. The leaves are pinnate with constant three to seven compound leaves, which are cut at the edge. The stipules are obsolete.

The flowers are borne in terminal paniculate inflorescences. The hermaphrodite flowers are radial symmetry and fünfzählig double perianth. The five stamens are white to yellow or pink. There are only five stamens present; the stamens are hairy at the base. The anthers are zweikammerig. The ovary is three - or two-fold. The hanging fruit capsules are inflated. The seeds are light brown and spherical.

Dissemination

The genus Staphylea is widespread in North America and Eurasia. Only the bladdernut ( Staphylea pinnata ) is native to Central Europe.

System

The first publication of the genus Staphylea took place in 1753 by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, 1, p 270 The botanical genus name Staphylea derives from the Greek word for grape staphylé.

There are about eleven Staphylea types:

• Staphylea bolanderi A.Gray - California bladdernut, occurs only in California
• Staphylea bumalda DC. - Japanese bladdernut, is found only in China, Manchuria, Korea and Japan
• Staphylea colchica Steven - Colchian bladdernut, occurs only in the Caucasus
• Staphylea emodi Wall. , Is found only in the Himalayas
• Staphylea forrestii Balf. f, is found in China ( Yunnan )
• Staphylea holocarpa Hemsl. - Chinese bladdernut, occurs only in central China
• Staphylea pinnata L. - bladdernut or Ordinary bladdernut, occurs only in Europe and in the Near East
• Staphylea shweliensis WWSmith, occurs in China ( Yunnan )
• Staphylea trifolia L. - American bladdernut, occurs only in Canada and the U.S.

In addition, a hybrid is:

• Staphylea × elegans hybrids of Staphylea colchica × Staphylea pinnata

The following previously been affiliated here species are currently assigned to other genera:

• Staphylea indica Burm. f is now Leea indica ( Burm. f ) Merr.
• Staphylea occidentalis Sw. is now Turpinia occidentalis ( Sw. ) G.Don

Swell

• Entry in Flora of Pakistan (Sections Description and systematics)
• Entry in Flora of China. (Sections Description, distribution and systematics)