Bladder Nut, Japanese bladdernut
Staphylea bumalda
Family: Staphyleaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows 2-10 m high and spreads 1.8 m wide. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves have 3 leaflets. These are lance shaped. There are sharp teeth along the edge. There is down underneath the leaf on the veins. The flowers are white and in panicles. The fruit are pods 25 mm long. They have 2 lobes.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in open forests and along roadsides. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. In Sichuan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, China, Japan, Korea
How it is used for food
The leaves are boiled then eaten with oil and salt. The oil extracted from the seeds in used for cooking.
Edible parts
Leaves, seeds - oil, flowers, shoots
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Shuhuacai