Redbud

Family:  Fabaceae, legume family
Genus, species:  Cercis canadensis

Leaves:
Leaves are heart-shaped, widest toward base, palmately veined. Leaf texture is thin and papery.

Bark:
Bark is reddish-brown, smooth

Flowers:
Flowers are showy, bright pink, produced in clusters in mid-April before leaves are produced. Flowers are pollinated by long-tongued bees.

Fruit:
Fruit is a long flat pod, contains flat brown seeds.

Common Uses and Interesting Facts:
Redbuds grow as large shrubs or small trees in the forest understory, and are often planted as ornamentals. Redbud roots have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules.

More Information:

Cercis is from the Greek for "Circe," a Greek goddess described in Homer's Odyssey.  This name is based the fact that the tree's podlike fruit looks like a weaver's shuttle.  The species name, canadensis, means "from Canada."  

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