Caragana arborescens

Common pea shrub ( Caragana arborescens )

The common pea shrub ( Caragana arborescens ), also called pea shrub, is a species of the legume family ( Fabaceae ), subfamily Papilionaceae ( Faboideae ). He is one of the larger members of the genus of the pea shrubs.

Appearance

The pea shrub is a deciduous, highly branched and upright shrub. It can reach a height of four to six meters. Young shoots of the shrub are initially finely hairy and glabrous later. The bark is olive green to brownish gray color.

The paired pinnate leaves are alternate. The individual leaflets are 1 to 2.5 inches long and of a yellow-green color. The bright yellow flowers bloom from May to July and are up to 2.5 inches long. From these, up to 5 centimeters develop long, narrow sleeves of reddish color.

Distribution area

Is native to the Common Pea shrub in northeastern Asia from Manchuria to Siberia. He is good with cold winters and hot, dry summers cope. In Europe and North America, he was introduced as an ornamental plant. In pea shrubs that are offered in the garden trade as high trunk, there are usually a decoration of the terrible pea shrub with dwarf pea shrub.

Use

With suitable soil and climatic conditions of the pea shrub can be used as a supporting component in windbreaks.

Toxicity

The seeds were used in the past as poultry feed and in times of need as human food. Because of gastrointestinal complaints by some children who went out probably by eating raw seeds, BfR believes this to be wrong and due to a lack of established knowledge sees need for further research.