identification of this plant please

[richardzane]

does anyone recognize this plant (NE OKL)? tried searching on the internet but no luck.
it grows on the west side of our bluff, an understory shrub .
tri-leafed and it has this very distinct paper lantern like pod that divides into three sections

shoots seem nicely spined and straight with opposing leave nodes on main branches.
grows along with hazel brush and also spice wood clumps.

appreciate any help!

[crooketarrow]

  The bark looks just like our dog wood here in WV. Here it's a understory plant in hard woods and popular woods. Leaves are close.

[Pat B]

Its not a dogwood.
Maybe an American Bladdernut(Staphylea trifolia).  You wiull have to tell us how it works for arrows. I've never used it.

[swamp monkey]

Good pix and description, both were very helpful.

This is a shrub called Bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia) here in Missouri.  The seeds are edible and the plant suckers a lot from the roots.  It looks like you already have a bundle cut for arrow stock.  Be sure to let us know how that works out. 

[swamp monkey]

Pat,

Great minds and all that.   

[TRACY]

Looks like. The bladder nut in my woods here in IN

[richardzane]

THANKS!  yeah thats it! ...I googled Bladdernut and there it was!
I WILL let you all know how they turn out for shafts.
harvested these bundles in March, scraped one bundle in early May...will do the other soon. I was impressed with its firmness of spine
even after reduced down to roughly 3/8" diameter and still a bit green.
I'll likely wait till the end of summer before attempting shafts.

[Pat B]

If you can get the bark off without them checking they will dry quicker. Try one...scrape the bark off except for 2" on each end and see what happens. If it hasn't checked in a week do the rest of them. Waiting until the end of summer will give you a more seasoned, stable shaft. Just like with bow wood, the longer they season the more stable they are.