Sapindaceae family, Sapindaceae
Origin: China, Japan
Habitat in the original area: drying riverbeds, banks of watercourses
Habitus: A tree growing up to 8 metres.
Leaf: Leaves grow alternately on the branches. They are odd-pinnate and can be up to 50 centimetres long. They consist of 7–15 ovate, on the edge serrate leaflets. In autumn they turn orange.
Bloom, fruit: It blooms from June to August with bisexual, light yellow, fragrant blooms grouped in upright terminal panicles. It is heavily honey-bearing. The fruits are swollen capsules resembling lanterns and hiding black spherical seeds which are 6 millimetres long. They persist on the tree until early spring of the following year.
Interesting fact: Due to its decorative blooms and fruits and its undemanding nature to the soil, it is an ideal solitaire planted in the city.
