winged yahoo (Euonymus alatus)

Euonymus: from the Greek eu, "good," and onoma, "a name"

alatas: with appendaged wings or flanges, usually the stems or leaf petioles

Habitat: UPL, Woods

Status: Introduced as a landscaping - escaped; invasive; found in the Morton Arboretum, various forest preserves in CW. Spotted along Des Plaines River at Ryerson Woods Nature Preserve, 4/2010.

Plant: perennial shrub

Flower: light green, four petaled.

Blooming: 26 April – 24 May

Leaf: Green leaf turns a brilliant red in the autumn.

Associates: Carya ovata, Arisaema triphyllum, Prunus serotina

C-value: 0

Distinguishing features: Most branches feature corky wings; petals whitish; leaves are brilliantly red in autumn

Below, Detail of autumn foliage, credit: Andreas Balzar, Flicker, http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/264247435_94823ca788.jpg?v=0

Below, View of mature plant as leaves are beginning to change. Credit, http://lh6.ggpht.com/_U3Q914QEvvY/RuzP8SYA2UI/AAAAAAAAES8/7KworQcgOIs/S4300077.JPG