Kentucky coffeetree
Antler Tree ( Gymnocladus dioicus )
The Antler Tree ( Gymnocladus dioicus ), a species in the legume family ( Fabaceae ) is a large deciduous tree, native to eastern North America.
Description
The antler tree reaches a height 18-30 meters and a crown diameter of 15 up to 18 meters. Detached copies branch out shortly above the ground and form a rounded crown, closed stock form, however, straight, slightly branched stems. The thick bark is gray or gray - brown, furrowed is rough and irregular. The wood is heavy, the thin sapwood is light yellow, brown and the heartwood reddish. Adult trees form especially in humus rich soil numerous offshoots by root suckers, which can also dig stone slabs and paths. The leaves are bipinnate, that is sitting on the main axis of the blade five to nine pairs of leaflets, of which the lowest one or two pairs simple, the other in turn, are pinnate. The entire sheet is 30 to 90 inches long and 50 to 60 centimeters wide. The individual leaves are oval, pointed toe, rounded at the base to wedge-shaped, provided with a short pedicel, five to eight inches long. The budding of the leaves takes place later than other deciduous trees, the leaves are reddish in bud, the fall color is yellow.
In early summer, scented star-shaped and white flowers appear. The tree is dioecious ( dioecious ), as noted by the scientific name takes dioicus reference. From them brown legumes develop, they are 15 to 25 centimeters long and 2.5 to 5 centimeters wide. They contain from four to eight seeds are surrounded by a sweet pulp.
Dissemination
The antler tree is native to North America. The circulation area covers there the south of Ontario, Canada, and extends into the United States from Kentucky and western Pennsylvania to Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota and the northern territory of Louisiana, the southern limit of distribution. Within this area of distribution of the tree is found mainly in river valleys and floodplains. In the northeastern area of distribution of the antler tree groves probably go back to deliberate plantings by North American Indians. The antler tree is nowhere common and can be found only in small groups or single copies in deciduous forests.
Use
The heavy, durable wood of the tree has antlers, as it tears easily, are carefully dried, but can then edit and polish well.
The tree is considered very heat and drought tolerated and is therefore often planted in the Midwest as a street tree.
In the American Tree antlers is called the Kentucky Coffeetree. This name results from the fact that you previously roasted the seeds and products thereof brewed coffee. The seeds contain but also for humans slightly toxic ingredients. Poisoning can occur from large amounts of this coffee substitute after drinking.
Documents
John M. Row, Wayne Geyer: Kentucky Coffeetree. In: Plant Guide. U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2007, accessed on 17 November 2009 (pdf, 301 kB, English).