N. ORD.—LEGU MINOS&:. 53 
S. ORD.—CASALPINIEA. 
GENUS.—G YM NOCLADUS,* LAM. 
SEX. SYST.—DIGECIA DECANDRIA. 
GYMNOCLADUS. 
_COFPFEE TREE. 
SYN.—GYMNOCLADUS CANADENSIS, LAM.; GUILANDICA DIOICA, LINN. 
COM. NAMES.—KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE, AMERICAN COFFEE BEAN, 
KENTUCKY MAHOGANY, NICKAR TREE, BONDUE, CHICOT. 
A TINCTURE OF THE FRESH FRUIT PULP OF GYMNOCLADUS 
CANADENSIS, LAM. 
Description.—This peculiar tree, when mature, reaches a height of from 50 
to 60 feet. Zrunk erect; dark extremely rough, and curiously broken trans- 
versely ;. dxanches few, thornless, when young cane-like, and in winter so destitute 
of anything looking like a bud that the whole tree appears as if dead. Leaves 
bi-pinnate, 2 to 3 feet long, bearing a pair of opposite leaflets near the base, and 
_ from 4 to 7 larger, odd-pinnate accessory leaf-stalks, each of which (upon the 
younger branches) is composed of from 6 to 8 pairs of leaflets, so that each leaf 
may bear from forty-eight to one hundred and seventy-four leaflets. These leaves 
develop late and fall early. Leaflets alternate, vertical, ovate-lanceolate, taper- 
pointed and entire, the lower pair upon the base of the petiole almost cordate, 
larger and more pointed; sépules none. /nflorescence terminal compound racemes 
or thyrsi; flowers dicecious, pedicillate; @stivation imbricate. Calyx elongated- 
tubular below; “md 5-cleft; odes lanceolate, equal. Corol/a not papilionaceous ; 
petals oblong, equal, inserted upon the summit of the calyx-tube. Séamens 10, 
included, inserted with the petals; //aments distinct, short, and bearded; azthers 
sagittate, versatile, introrse, 2-celled, opening longitudinally. Szy/e single. Ovules 
anatropous. /vuzt an oblong, flattened pod, 6 to 10 inches long and about 1 inch 
broad, pulpy inside; seeds 2 to 4, flattish, hard, somewhat ovoid, about one-half an 
inch broad, and of a dark olive color; emdéryo straight. 
History and Habitat.—The Kentucky Coffee Tree grows in rich woods, along 
rivers and lakes, from Western New York and Pennsylvania, to Illinois and south- 
westward, where it flowers in June. : 
The previous uses of this plant in medicine are grounded upon its peculiar 
action on nerve-centres. A decoction of the leaves and fruit pulp has been found 
useful in locomotor ataxia, reflex troubles incident upon masturbation, laryngeal 
x\édo;, k/ados, branch, from the barren and dead appearance of the tree in winter. 
* Topvés, cymnos, naked; 
pres, LY ? 
