American Bladdernut is a native shrub or small tree of moist, rich forests with distinctive inflated papery seed capsules that rattle in autumn wind, giving it its name. It grows along stream banks and moist slopes and produces small white bell-shaped flowers in May. Native bees are important pollinators, and the seeds are edible.
Habitat
Rich moist forests and stream banks in eastern and central North America
Diet
Flowers pollinated by native bees; seeds occasionally eaten by small mammals
How common
Common
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