Redbud, Cercis
canadensis
Fabaceae or Pea Family
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Small understory tree. Leaves heart-shaped, not
opposite each other on the twigs. Flowers appear in the
spring, before the leaves. Flowers are pink to violet and
somewhat shaped like flowers of sweet peas. They look
somewhat like fancy slippers or singing faces with protruding
noses, long open mouths and big pink spectacles. Flowers
grow directly from the woody stems. Fruit a flattened
peapod. Common in partly sunny places in the woods, and, especially along the edges of the woods. Very noticeable in bloom, when it lights up the forest with pink flames. Less obvious in the summer, but still easily identified by the heart-shaped leaves and peapod fruits. |
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