I have seen many pod shaped seed heads but these were in a tree above me. Meet the Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) aka Pride of India or China Tree or Varnish Tree. This East Asian native has been in the U.S. since the 18th century, and used as a landscape tree. The flowers are cascades of yellow hence the name Golden Rain Tree. And the sap is dark brown hence the name Varnish Tree. Copyright 2023 Pamela Breitberg
