KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE ALBERT KIM

Gymnocladus diocius (L.) K. Koch

Classification

Kingdom Plantae – Plants Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons Subclass Rosidae Order Fabales Family Fabaceae – Pea family Genus Gymnocladus Lam. – coffeetree Species Gymnocladus dioicus (L.) K. Koch –

Kentucky coffeetree

Shape, Form, and Type

The Kentucky coffeetree is a broadleaf deciduous tree and grows up to 70 ft. with a width of 50 ft. It is fast-growing when young and then becomes moderate to slow-growing as it ages. The shape is oval and irregular. The trunks may be 10 to 12 ft tall and has a high irregular crown.

Figure 1

Bark

The bark is gray or brown and deeply furrowed.

Figure 2

Twig

The Kentucky Coffeetree has stout, branchless twigs and have huge leaf scars with one or two small lateral buds that are barely visible just above the leaf scars. A terminal bud is absent from the ends of its twigs.

Figure 3

Leaf

The leaf is alternate on stem and is 12 to 36 in long. It’s bipinnately compound with 40 to 60 smooth-margined, abruptly pointed leaflets.. Figure 4

Bud

A terminal is absent in the bud. Laterals are small, pubescent and sunken into the twig.

Figure 5

Flower

The floral petals are small. The male flower is thicker than the female one. The female flowers occur on female trees and may be up to a foot in length, while the male flowers on male trees are often shorter but found in greater abundance.

Figure 6

Fruit

The fruit is a reddish brown to dark brown leathery pod.

Figure 7

Habitat and Range

Northeastern and central U.S. It lives in deep, moist alkaline soil.

Figure 8

Uses

Woodworkers sometimes use the heavy, strong wood in cabinetwork, for fence posts, and in construction. Also, people frequently plant the tree as an ornamental.

References

Retrieved 6/24/10. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol

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