Cliffortia falcata

The beige, inflated Cliffortia falcata fruits among the sickle-shaped trifoliolate leaflets have pinkish red spots scattered along their surfaces before they dry out. The pointed fruits appear like small Christmas tree decorations out of season; the fruiting happens with and shortly after flowering that ends in July. The photo was taken in May.

The leaves grow alternate in spaced pairs or small clusters upon the stems. The slightly fleshy leaflets have a fleshy leaf stalk (petiole), but no leaflet stalks (petiolules).

Leaflet midribs may be clearly visible upon the hairless leaflet blades, at least on their lower parts. The midribs are sometimes sunken on the upper surface of the leaflet and slightly prominent on the duller lower one (Privett and Lutzeyer, 2010; iNaturalist).