euonymous

Burning-bush Euonymous Euonymous atropurpureus
Family: Celastraceae (Stafftree)
Branching: Opposite
Other names: Spindle Tree, Eastern Wahoo

This small southern tree is the only member of this genus native to Canada that can grow to tree size (the Strawberry-bushes are trailing shrubs). It has greenish-purple twigs that often have four vertical lines (sometimes slight ridges) running down the side. Like other members of the family, its fruits are arils. Several non-native species have been introduced as garden ornamentals, the most common of which is Winged Euonymous. Another introduced species, European Euonymous (E. europaeus) apparently resembles Burning-bush Euonymous quite closely.