Summary ⁷

Ptelea trifoliata (hoptree, stinking ash, wafer ash) is a species of flowering plant in the Rutaceae family, native to North and Central America. It is a deciduous shrub or tree, growing to 8 m (26 ft) tall by 4 m (13 ft) wide.

Comments ⁸

Perhaps the most attractive feature consists of the wafer-like fruits, which resemble the samaras of Elm trees (Ulmus spp.). Otherwise, this rather unique shrub does not attract much attention to itself. Notwithstanding its common name, Wafer Ash is not one of the true ashes (Fraxinus spp.), which are members of the Olive family (Oleaceae). Another common name of this shrub is Hop Tree, because it was used as a substitute for hops in brewing beer. Different varieties of this shrub have been described across its wide range in the United States, but most specimens in Illinois correspond to the typical variety.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Gravitywave, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/74215305@N00/2406362230
2. (c) Scott Namestnik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://eol.org/media/9316973
3. (c) "<a href=""http://www.nal.usda.gov/"">National Agricultural Library</a>. Originally from <a href=""http://www.fs.fed.us/"">US Forest Service</a>.", some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=pttr_007_ahp.tif
4. (c) Scott Namestnik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://eol.org/media/9316974
5. (c) "<a href=""http://www.knps.org"">Kentucky Native Plant Society</a>. Scanned by <a href=""http://www.omnitekinc.com/"">Omnitek Inc</a>.", some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=pttr_001_avd.tif
6. (c) "<a href=""http://nt.ars-grin.gov/"">ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory</a>. United States, NM.", some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=pttr_003_avp.tif
7. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptelea_trifoliata
8. (c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29450369

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• NBN Atlas
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online

Range Map

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iNat Map