Euonymus alatus
Verh. Batav. Genootsch. Kunst. 12: 49. 1830.
Illustrator:
Copyright:
Shrubs 1–4(–7) m. Stems erect; young branches 4-angled, becoming corky winged. Leaves deciduous; petiole 0.5–4 mm; blade narrowly elliptic, 2.5–6 × 0.5–2.5 cm, base attenuate or cuneate, margins denticulate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences axillary, (1–)3(–7)-flowered. Flowers: sepals 4; petals 4, yellowish green or white, oblong, 2–3 × 1.5–2 mm; stamens 4; ovary smooth. Capsules purple-brown, obovoid, 8–10 × 5–15 mm, deeply 2–4-lobed to base or only 1 lobe developing, lobes nearly distinct, surface smooth. Seeds ellipsoid, 7–8 × 4–5 mm; aril yellow or orange. 2n = 64.
Phenology: Flowering spring–fall; fruiting summer–fall.
Habitat: Roadsides, old fields, thickets, woodlands.
Elevation: 0–400 m.
Distribution
Ont., Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., Mont., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., S.C., Utah, Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis., e Asia.
Discussion
The leaves of Euonymus alatus become bright red or reddish purple in fall, one of the reasons for its widespread use as an ornamental.
Selected References
None.