*Soapberry

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*Sapindus saponaria
SOAPBERRY

Sapindaceae
South America, S. North America

Location: map coordinates M-13 (near southwest corner of Conwell Hall), N 39°11'11'' W 75°32'42''

Planting history: presently unknown.

Description:
  • deciduous tree
  • etymology: Sapindus from Latin for Indian soap (saponis = soap, and Indicus = Indian); saponaria = soapy
  • leaf pinnately compound, 7-19 leaflets
  • flowers small, whitish, in large clusters (panicles)
  • fruits fleshy, golden; in large clusters; becoming dark; produce a soapy lather (hence the common and scientific names), formerly used for washing by Native American Indians; fruits poisonous if eaten by humans
  • seeds shiny black; used to make beads, buttons
  • tolerant of dry, poor soils

*Non-native species (not native to Delaware)

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