Description

Heart Shaped Pod of the Golden Rain tree

The heart shaped pod  of the art piece arise from a tree called the Goldenrain tree (aka pride of India, China Tree and Varnish Tree and Koelreuteria paniculata).  It  is a species of flowering plant in the family Sapindaceae, originating in eastern Asia, China and Korea.

 

The tree grows up to 23 feet.  The flowers are small and yellow. The pod is lantern shaped reminiscent of the the Chinese lantern flower, and Cape Gooseberry and is about 5cms long and 3cm wide and starts as a green to yellow color and becomes orange to pink in the fall.  The black seeds are 5-8mms in diameter.