Today, I identified a golden raintree for the 1st time (probably Koelreuteria paniculata). It immediately caught my eye after we parked the car in downtown Franklin, IN (visiting the area for fun today). Right now, it's covered in gorgeous yellow flowers, totally unlike any other tree we normally see around here.
This one is planted in front of Franklin's courthouse (Johnson County). This species is originally from Asia, and it's invasive in some subtropical areas of North America, such as Florida and Hawaii. It has big brown seed pods (which I guess are poisonous) starting in August. There is a little more information here: http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6... New Harmony in Posey County (SW Indiana, the toe of the "boot") has a lot more of these trees, so many that it is nicknamed "Raintree County" (which, during our trip down the internet trivia rabbit hole, we discovered is also the name of a huge 1948 novel with an author who had a tragic life).
- Kamilah Reed (K. Gill)