EARTHQUEST Biological Field School - Burning Bush (Euonymus atropurpurea) Rare plants of Ontario page, Field botany programs and courses, field botany courses, rare trees and shrubs of Ontario field course, Grasses, sedges and rushed field course

EARTHQUEST (Canada) for the Environment

Learn how to be a great field botanist, Botany, Field training and professional skill upgrading opportunities

navbar

Rare Plants of Ontario
Family: Celastraceae/Stafftree
COSEWIC: Not at Risk
MNRF: Not at Risk
Provincial rank: S3
Oldham (2017): Rare

EARTHQUEST Regional rank: R3 (Ecoregion 7E)

Local rank (watersheds):
Essex Region watershed (L2)
Halton Region watershed (L1)
Hamilton watershed (L1)
Long Point watershed (L1)
Niagara Region watershed (L1)
Maitland Valley watershed (L1)
St. Clair watershed (L1)
Toronto Region watershed (L1)
Catfish Creek watershed (L1)
Halton region watershed (L1)

Burning Bush(Euonymus atropurpureus)

Flowering period:

From June 4 to July 18. The source of this data is the EARTHQUEST Plants of Ontario database (2015b).

5 Second Rule Identification:

Simple, caudate leaves resembling Cornus spp., pinnate veined, serrated with short stems, oppositely paired. Branches may possess ridges and are green when young, turning darker, then brown when mature. Only member of Euonymus Genus with burgandy coloured four petaled flowers

Biology and Ecology:

Little is known about what kind of insect pollinators contribute to propagation, but Long-legged Flies ((Chrysosoma spp) have been observed pollinating flowers (Jolly pers. obs. 2016). Flowers may also be self-fertized. A 5 year old plant was observed with 254 flowers, with 17 fertilized producing mature arils (Jolly pers. obs. 2016). Mature arils produce 2 drupes bearing 2 seeds. Seeds may be dispersed by strong winds by mid January, or eaten by birds such as Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hymelis) by early February (Jolly pers. obs. 2017)

Population Size:

Three thousand two hundred and twenty three records in the NHIC database, representing 35 NHIC Element Occurrences.

Habitat & Soils:

Rich deciduous woods and wooded floodplains. Ecological Land Classification data is lacking for most counties and regional municipalities, but available for the following vegetation types in Elgin county; Fresh – Moist Green Ash - Hardwood Lowland Deciduous Forest Type (FODM7-2) and Halton region; Dry – Fresh Sugar Maple – Basswood Deciduous Forest Type (FODM5-6).

Threats:

Threats include invasive species such as Garlic Mustard (Alliaria officinalis), aphids (Aphis spp.) and land development. Aphids may cause considerable defoliation whereby fresh shoots bend, or break (Jolly pers. obs. 2017).

Recovery:

Currently, no recovery strategies have been recommended. A national recovery team has not been designated since this species is provincially rare.

Biometrics:

Plants may flower in 3rd year from seedling stage when shrub is approximately 1 m in height. Leaves are simple, elliptical with pinnate veination and short petioles. Samaras may be paired, hanging from a single stem

Environmental Protection:

No protection is currently afforded to this species.

Confusing look-a-likes:

European Euonymus, or Spindletree (Euonymus europea).

Plant Associates:

Typically found growing with these ground layer species; Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens), May-apple (Podophyllum peltatum), Running Strawberry-bush (Euonymus obovatus), Red Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum), and Thin-leaved Sedge (Carex cephaloidea).

References:

1. Jolly, D.W. 2015a. Species at Risk trees, shrubs and wildflowers of Ontario - volume 1 (revised). EARTHQUEST (Canada) for the Environment. Port Burwell. 193 pp.
2. Jolly, D.W. 2015b. Unpublished Burning Bush data extracted from the Plants of Ontario database. Website: www.earthquestcanada.ca [accessed January 7, 2015].
3. Oldham, Michael J. 2017. List of the Vascular Plants of Ontario’s Carolinian Zone (Ecoregion 7E). Carolinian Canada and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Peterborough, ON. 132 pp.

Distribution:

To date, current and historical populations have been found in 13 counties, or tier regional municipalities; Chatham-Kent, Durham, Elgin, Essex, Halton, Hamilton, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Norfolk, Peel, Toronto, and Wellington.

Spring
Sapling
Photo: Dave Jolly
Summer
Photo: Dave Jolly	Leaves Photo: Dave Jolly	Arils Photo: Dave Jolly	Flower Photo: Dave Jolly
Winter
Photo: Dave Jolly	Bark Photo: Dave Jolly	Buds Photo: Dave Jolly	Leaf scar Photo: Dave Jolly