Shrub to 4 m or more tall with upright branches. Leaflets 3-5, ovate-oblong, 5-8 cm long, long-pointed, margins with very finely pointed teeth. Flower clusters to 10 cm or so long. Flowers about 2 cm long; late spring. Sepals spreading. Petals white. Fruit capsule 5-10 cm long, 2-3-lobed, inflated.

SW Caucasus.

S. pinnata L., European Bladder-nut, from SW Asia and C and S Europe is occasionally offered and has leaves with 5-7 leaflets, erect sepals and capsules less than 5 cm long.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Staphyleaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.