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