Spindle
Spindle tree in October
Flowers and leaves in May
4-merous flower
Immature fruit
Mature fruit
Release of orange seeds
A couple of old fruits
Slightly toothed leaves
Autumn colours
Fruits en masse
Euonymus europaeus
Celastraceae
May to June
It is found throughout the country except for parts of the North.
See the BSBI distribution map for Spindle
It is found in woods, scrub and hedges, particularly on
alkaline soils.
It is also planted in gardens and as hedging.
Some country roads in Hampshire are lined with spindle hedges.
Spindle is a native, deciduous shrub or small tree, growing up
to 5m.
The flowers are quite inconspicuous.
They are 4-merous with greenish-white petals.
Leaves are green, slightly toothed and oval to lanceolate.
The leaves turn pinkish-red in the autumn, making a striking
display.
The fruit bodies are particularly handsome. They have 4
segments and are initially green. In September and October
they turn an attractive coral, pink and release bright orange seeds.
According to Mabey (1996) in Flora Britannica, the name spindle
was imported from Holland and reflected its use in hand-spinning
there. Prior to this, it was used in England for skewers, toothpicks
and knitting needles, and was called appropriately, skewerwood,
pincushion shrub and prickwood.
Previous page: Southern Marsh-orchid
Next page: Star-of-Bethlehem
Spindle tree in October
Flowers and leaves in May
4-merous flower
Immature fruit
Mature fruit
Release of orange seeds
A couple of old fruits
Slightly toothed leaves
Autumn colours
Fruits en masse
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