Genus GYMNOCLADUS, Lam. 



Leguminaceoe. Dioecia Decandna. 



Syst. Nai Syat. Lin. 



Synonymes. 



Jh/mnocladus, Guilandina, Of Authors. 



Derivations. The name, Gt/mnocladus, is derived from the Greek gumnos, naked, and klados, a branch, from the naked 

 appearance of the branches. The genus Guilandina was named in honour of Melchior Guilandin, a Prussian IraveUar in Africa, 

 and demonstrator of botany, at Padua. 



Generic Characters. Calyx tubular-infundibuliform, the limb 5-cleft ; lobes lanceolate, equal. Petals 5, 

 oblong, somewhat longer than the lobes of the calyx, inserted into the summit of the tube. Stamens 

 10, included, inserted with the petals ; those opposite the sepals a little longest. Legume oblong, 

 compressed, very large, thick, pulpy within. Torrey and Gray, Flora. 



^HE genus Gymnocladus comprises but one species, a deciduous 

 tree, native of North America, with upright branches, and incon- 

 spicuous buds. It was constituted by M. Lamarck, from the 

 genus Guilandina, which at present contains but one species, the 

 Guilandina bonduc, or Bonduc-tree, a native of India. The 

 Gymnocladus is nearly allied to the Tamarindus indica, a large, 

 beautiful, spreading tree, indigenous to the East and West Indies, Arabia, aud 

 Egypt, from which the tamarinds of commerce are produced. Its pods, like 

 those of the tamarind-tree, may be preserved, and are said to be wholesome, and 

 slightly aperient. 



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