Mystery plant with large blue seed pods.

Hi,
I'm new to this list and am looking for help in identifying a tree or shrub which is in the garden of my daughter's newly purchased home. It is about 10 ft tall and hasn't had any outstanding features until we noticed that 5 huge blue-grey seed pods have developed. I took one to a nursery and was told that they were a very poisonous castor bean, however in my subsequence search for castor plants on the internet I could find nothing similar, and the leaves are not at all like those of castor plants. The seeds within the pod are each enclosed in a gelatinous substance. That is a dime in front of the seeds in the picture of the pods. I would appreciate your help in solving this mystery.
Thank you
GrandmaSheila

 

Hello Grandma sheila

you have what is commonly known as 'Deadman's Fingers' its latin name is Decaisnea fargesii and it is in an un pronouncable family (Lardizabalaceae, ) native to the orient

here is a link to one of UBC's great plant photos

http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/potd/2005/10/decaisnea_insignis.php

 

Thank you for your amazingly quick reply and the link to the photo. I'm really inspired to ask more questions now!
Sheila

 

I also like the colour of the leaves as they first emerge.

 

Thanks for the link, Daniel.
Those opening leaves are beautiful. We'll pay attention to the changes next spring.
GrandmaSheila