Gymnocladus dioicus is a species of deciduous broadleaf flowering plants (in the Fabaceae or Legume, pea or bean family), native to central and eastern North America. It is recognized by its coarse branching structure, thick grey bark, and complicated arrangement of leaves (bipinnate compound, in which each "leaf" in a technical sense comprises a stalk with several pairs of secondary stalks on opposite sides of it, and each secondary stalk has several pairs of "leaflets"). In winter, its bare branches, with no thin twigs, create a bold architectural form in the landscape.
The tree produces large, dark seed pods containing hard seeds that were historically roasted and eaten by native Americans, and used as a coffee substitute by early European settlers in America. The unroasted seeds and pods are toxic. The tough seed pods are too difficult for many animals to chew through and, in the wild, it only grows well in wetlands where the seed pods can rot away to allow germination.
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On account of its exceptional size for its species, this
tree is a British Isles champion in The
Tree Register
Whiteknights QuadSee all photos of this tree
