can't id it without a photo. you'll have to send one in.

When does it flower? Does it get flowers before or after it gets leaves? Any other info, besides a picture, would help. If it gets flowers first, it might be a kind of magnolia, but that's only a guess. Marg

No magnolias are orange with 3 petals. Is this indoors? Outdoors? Flowering now? If not when? And where? Flowers with 3 petals are relatively rare and are mostly monocots eg bulbs rather than trees or shrubs. Are you sure it is 3?

To post a picture the easiest way is to upload it to a photo hosting site eg Photobucket and then cut and paste the HTML code into your post.

You could also try the Name That Plant forum.

I emailed the original poster the same day he posted. The mystery has been solved- they were not flowers, but seed capsules left over from the previous season. It never crossed my mind to check back in to let people know it's been solved.

Sorry all about not responding, it's my busy season (Invisible Fence)

Yes, upon closer examination it was more vine-like than tree, and not flower petals but seed husks (3 lobes) from last year.

So final ID is Celastrus orbiculatus Japanese Bittersweet

Steve

OK thanks for getting back - I do feel slightly vindicated. I had been thinking on the lines of a Euonymous fruit with the orange seeds, so not too far off, but I couldn't square the 3 part.

I had been thinking it was a vine of some sort like dutchman's pipe.. or something else.

however I should caution the poster that Japanese Bittersweet is considered an invasive vine. It�s a prolific seeder and new plants would come up as a result.