Gymnocladus

Trees, unarmed, dioecious, pubescent on young growth and reproductive parts. Stems erect, stout, glabrescent. Leaves alternate, even- or irregularly-bipinnate; stipules present [absent], subulate; petiolate; pinnae 3–10 pairs, proximalmost reduced to single leaflets, opposite, subopposite, or alternate; stipels absent or present, subulate; leaflets 6–14[–30], irregular, blade margins entire, surfaces pubescent abaxially when young, glabrous or glabrescent adaxially. Inflorescences 15–50-flowered, terminal, racemes or panicles; bracts and bracteoles usually absent, sometimes present, minute. Flowers caesalpinioid, hypanthium elongate; calyx tubular, lobes 5; corolla whitish, appearing apetalous; stamens 10, distinct; anthers dorsifixed. Fruits legumes, sessile, compressed, turgid, oblong, curved slightly with abrupt point, tardily dehiscent, woody, pulpy between seeds, glabrous. Seeds 2–5, subglobose to somewhat flattened. x = 14.

Distribution

c, e North America, Asia (China), introduced in South America, Europe, Australia.

Discussion

Species ca. 4 (1 in the flora).

Roasted seeds of Gymnocladus were formerly used as a coffee substitute (J. P. Spaeth and J. W. Thieret 2004). D. H. Janzen and P. S. Martin (1982) suggested that Gymnocladus seeds were once dispersed by now extinct megafauna with which they coevolved. Its wood is durable, has a desirable appearance when polished, and is used for cabinets, fence posts, and construction (T. S. Elias 1980).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Gymnocladus dioicus