My brother recently purchased some landed in southern Ohio. We found a plant that we need some help identifying. This bush / tree has small red star pods that contain 3 red seeds, 1 seed to each star point. A forth point could also have a seed, but the one I have does not. The stem is in the center of the flower pod. The pod hangs downward from the stem. The bush was small, approximately 3 feet at its highest point. It is a beautiful plant, and we would like to know some more about it. Thanks in advance.
Sounds like a spindle (Euonymus) or a staff vine (Celastrus). They are two closely related genera in the family Celastraceae. See if this pic (Euonymus europaeus) matches: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Euonymus_europaeus2.jpg Or this one (Celastrus orbiculatus): http://www.mytho-fleurs.com/images/vivaces/celastrus%20orbiculatus%20fruits.JPG