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Weed Identification

burningbush

Family

Celastraceae

Scientific Name

Euonymus alatus

Other Common Names:

winged euonymus

Synonyms (former Scientific Names):

Euonymus alata

Habit

perrenial erect bush up to 6 m tall

Leaves

leaves elliptic to ovate-lancelote, 6-12 cm long

Flower Seed Head

few to many flowers in divergently branched cymes 2-4 cm wide on axillary peduncles 2-5 cm long

Seed Fruit

fruit is red, depressed-obovoid, smooth, about 1.5 cm diameter

Where Found

found in moist woods: NY to Minn and Neb, to Fla and Tex

Growth Habit

woody bush or tree

Thorns or Spines

not present

Approximate Flower Diameter

pencil

Dominant Flower Color

Varies: 
purple
red

Flower Symmetry

Varies: 
radial symmetery
bilateral symmetry

Leaf Shape

lance

Leaf Structure

simple

Stem Hairs

no hairs

Stem Cross Section

round or oval

Milky Sap

not present

Life Cycle

perennial

Ochrea

not present

Plant Type

Shrub