100 
Spring Flora of Oklahoma 
1. Olastrus scandens L. Climbing Bittersweet. A twining, 
woody vine. Leaves alternate, ovate, oval or obovate, 2'-4' long, 
glabrous on both sides, acuminate or acute at the apex, acute or 
rounded at the base, crenulate. Flowers greenish, about 2" broad, 
in terminal compound racemes. Petals crenate, much longer than 
the calyx-lobes. Capsule yellow or orange, 5"-6" in diameter, open¬ 
ing in autumn. 
May-June. In rich soil. Frequent. 
FAMILY 50. STAPHYLEACEiE. Bladder-Nut Family. 
Trees or shrubs, with mostly opposite, odd-pinnate or 
3-foliolate stipulate leaves, and regular, perfect flowers in 
terminal or axillary clusters. Sepals, petals and stamens 
usually 5. Carpels mostly 3. Fruit a dehiscent, bladdery 
capsule in the following genus. 
I. STAPHYLEA L. 
Shrubs with opposite 3-foliolate or pinnate leaves, and 
axillary drooping racemes or panicles of white flowers. 
Pedicels jointed. Petals the same number as the sepals 
and about equaling them. Ovary 2-3-parted, the lobes 1- 
celled. Ovules numerous in each cavity. Capsule 2-3- 
lobed. Seeds globose. 
1. Staphylea trifolia L. American Bladder-nut. A branching 
shrub. Young leaves and petioles pubescent. Mature foliage glab- 
rate. Leaflets ovate or oval, finely and sharply serrate. Flowers 
campanulate, racemed. Pedicels bracted at the base. Capsule much 
inflated, about 2' long, 1' wide. 
In moist woods and thickets. April-May. 
FAMILY 51. ACERACEiE. Maple Family. 
Trees or shrubs, with abundant, often sugary sap. 
Leaves opposite, simple and palmately lobed, or pinnate, 
without stipules. Flowers regular, mostly somewhat 
monoecious or dioecious, in axillary and terminal cymes 
or racemes. Calyx 4-9-parted. Petals as many as the 
