GYMNOCLADUS— GLEDITSIA 



173 



Gymnocladus dioica (Linne) Koch 1869 Kentucky Coffee-tree 



Tree attaining a height of 15-30 meters (45-90 ft.) and a trunk di- 

 ameter of 1.5-8 dm; bark gray, deep-fissured and roughened by persistent 

 scales; buds small, in hairy cavities, 2 in the axil of each leaf, one above 

 the other, the lower sterile; leaves large, 6-9 dm. long, bi-pinnate, the 

 pinnae with 7-15 leaflets each, leaflets stalked, ovate, rounded at the base, 

 acute or acuminate at the apex, sometimes pubescent on the veins beneath, 

 2-10 cm. long, 2-6 cm. wide; racemes many-flowered, 10-18 cm. long, 

 flowers 15-18 mm. long, calyx-tube campanulate, 1 cm. long; pod 12-25 

 cm. long, 4-5 cm. wide : dioica, dioecious. 



In the southeastern part of the state as far north as St. Paul and 

 westward in the Minnesota River valley to New Ulm. Common in the 

 Mississippi River Valley and westward along some of the tributaries. 

 Distributed from N. Y. and Pa. to Minn.,, Neb. and Kan., southward be- 

 tween the mountains to the middle of Tenn. 



The wood is heavy but not very hard, strong and coarse grained and 

 very durable in contact with the soil. It is light brown in color and takes 

 a good polish, weight 48 lbs. Frequently planted as a park tree but not 

 very ornamental. Flowers in June. 



Gleditsia Linne 1753 



(Named for J. G. Gleditsch, a German botanist who lived at the 

 same time as Linne.) 



Thorny trees with evenly, once or twice pinnate leaves ; thorns branched 

 or simple, situated above the axils of the leaves, often very large ; flowers 

 small, greenish, in axillary spikes; calyx short, 3-5-cleft, petals equal, 



