unusual shrub/tree for identification

[Geneticsbunny]

I can't work out what this shrub/tree is. It produces weird air filled seed pods which pop when you stamp on them and these tiny pink flowers. Would be very grateful if anyone could work out what it is.

It has pinnate leaves (leaflets coming off a central spine) which often leads one to pea family, but I’m not sure it has the right flowers. Any chance of a closeup of a single flower?

It's quite high up bit I will see what I can do

Any help?

Doesn’t help me because I don’t recognise it but I can tell you that it’s definitely not in the Pea family.

There's an app! Picturethis which will identify it for you. Free trial! I use it on my allotment when I've forgotten what I've planted 😂

Hmm. Do you know of any other plant families with pinnate leaves?

Yes, quite a few have some species with pinnate leaves, eg Rose family (eg some Sorbus), Olive family (eg Ash), Moschatel/Town Hall Clock family (eg Elder).

I’ve already googled “tree pinnate leaves pink flowers pods” and “tree pinnate leaves white flowers pods” with no luck

you could resort to an app, but remember it’s only a starting point and you’ll need to double check by reading about its suggestion, seeing whether all the features match, whether the suggestion is actually a tree/shrub (and not, eg a creeper or a herbaceous plant), whether it grows in the UK, whether it’s sold here….). Apps are only picture matching, they don’t have botanical knowledge.

It is growing in what used to be a botanical gardens so it is possible that it is something really weird. I don't think an app will be much use. Will have a poke around and see what I can find which looks similar online.

My app says it's the common bladdernut! If you Google it, is that it?!!

That’s it!

@sunlovingcriminal thank you so much. Mystery solved.