Description

This enticing little tree has so many wonderful features: dark green, strikingly glossy leaves; creamy fragrant flowers; unusual smooth, dark grey, almost black bark and distinctive reddish brown, papery, balloon-like fruit pods. Altogether, it is a very attractive and pleasing garden subject.

The bladdernut is an evergreen shrub or small multi-stemmed tree with a straight trunk that branches low down to form a dense, round to pyramidal crown. The bark on young branches is yellow-green to pinkish, covered by fine coppery hairs; but smooth and blackish grey on older stems and branches.

The shiny leaves, also with a fringe of ginger hairs, are leathery, dark green above and lighter below. An occasional bright red or orange leaf occurs adding to the overall attractiveness of this plant. Scented flowers, hanging from hairy stalks, appear in spring. They are bell-shaped, white to creamy-yellow, and male and female flowers occur on different trees.

The fruits, borne throughout summer, are fleshy berries that turn scarlet when ripe. They are enclosed in inflated, bladder-like capsules that dry to red and remain on the tree for many months after the fruit has fallen and so may be found on the trees at almost any time of the year.

The fruits are edible but are somewhat bitter and so not very tasty. The roasted seeds have been used as a coffee substitute. The wood is variable in colour, mainly whitish with brown to purple stripes, dense, evenly grained, strong and suitable for furniture, but large logs are often not available. Smaller diameter stems are used for implementing handles. Bark extracts are administered as enemas for treating menstrual pain, impotency and infertility. A leaf and root infusion can be used to treat rashes.