Yellowhorn, Xanthoceras sorbifolium

Very rare tree...

Rowan-leaved Xanthoceras is a flowering shrub in the Sapindaceae family which is the only species of the Xanthoceras genus. It is native to China, in the temperate provinces of Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Shandong, as well as Korea. It is cultivated in Europe in regions with a temperate climate for its ornamental qualities, since its flowering in late spring and early summer produces white flowers tinged with pink-red inside.

This shrub can reach 2 to 3 meters high and has deciduous compound leaves resembling those of mountain ash, hence its name. They are alternate and measure 12 to 30 cm in length. The white flowers measure 2 to 3 cm in diameter with five petals in panicles 10 to 20 cm long in mid-spring (May-June). The fruits appear in autumn in the form of oval capsules 5 to 6 cm in diameter which separate into three sections (carpels) when ripe, leaving 6 to 18 dark brown seeds 1.5 cm in diameter resembling those of the Aesculus or chestnut species. Their taste is close to a sweet chestnut and are therefore edible. Its seeds, flowers and leaves are edible.