The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

European spindle-tree, spindletree

burning-bush, oriental spindle-tree, wing burning bush, wing euonymus, wing spindle-tree

Habit Shrubs or trees 2–10 m. Stems erect; young branches terete, not corky winged. Shrubs 1–4(–7) m. Stems erect; young branches 4-angled, becoming corky winged.
Leaves

deciduous;

petiole 4–12 mm;

blade ovate-elliptic, 2.5–10 × 1.5–3.5 cm, base attenuate to broadly cuneate, margins minutely denticulate, apex acuminate.

deciduous;

petiole 0.5–4 mm;

blade narrowly elliptic, 2.5–6 × 0.5–2.5 cm, base attenuate or cuneate, margins denticulate, apex acuminate.

Inflorescences

axillary, 1–7(–15)-flowered.

axillary, (1–)3(–7)-flowered.

Flowers

sepals 4;

petals 4, yellow or white, oblong, 3–4 × 1–2 mm;

stamens 4;

ovary smooth.

sepals 4;

petals 4, yellowish green or white, oblong, 2–3 × 1.5–2 mm;

stamens 4;

ovary smooth.

Capsules

pink, obovoid, 8–10 × 12–15 mm, deeply (2–)4-lobed, rarely only 1 lobe developing, lobes clearly connate, surface smooth.

purple-brown, obovoid, 8–10 × 5–15 mm, deeply 2–4-lobed to base or only 1 lobe developing, lobes nearly distinct, surface smooth.

Seeds

obovoid, 7–8 × 4–5 mm;

aril orange or yellow.

ellipsoid, 7–8 × 4–5 mm;

aril yellow or orange.

2n

= 64.

Euonymus europaeus

Euonymus alatus

Phenology Flowering spring–summer; fruiting summer–fall. Flowering spring–fall; fruiting summer–fall.
Habitat Roadsides, thickets, woodlands. Roadsides, old fields, thickets, woodlands.
Elevation 0–300 m. (0–1000 ft.) 0–400 m. (0–1300 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; CT; IL; IN; KY; MA; ME; MI; MO; MS; NE; NH; NJ; NY; OH; PA; RI; TN; UT; VA; VT; WI; NB; ON; PE; QC; Europe [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CT; DC; DE; GA; IA; IL; IN; KS; KY; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; NC; NH; NJ; NY; OH; PA; RI; SC; UT; VA; VT; WI; WV; ON; e Asia [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

The leaves of Euonymus europaeus vary greatly in shape and size, especially in cultivated plants. The species was introduced to the flora area as a garden ornamental.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

The leaves of Euonymus alatus become bright red or reddish purple in fall, one of the reasons for its widespread use as an ornamental.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 12, p. 125. FNA vol. 12, p. 125.
Parent taxa Celastraceae > Euonymus Celastraceae > Euonymus
Sibling taxa
E. alatus, E. americanus, E. atropurpureus, E. fortunei, E. obovatus, E. occidentalis
E. americanus, E. atropurpureus, E. europaeus, E. fortunei, E. obovatus, E. occidentalis
Synonyms Celastrus alatus, E. alatus var. apterus
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 197. (1753) — (as Evonymus) (Thunberg) Siebold: Verh. Batav. Genootsch. Kunst. 12: 49. (1830) — (as Evonimus)
Web links