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3. GYMNOCLADUS. THE COFFEE TREE. 



Gymnocladus dioica (Linnaeus) Koch. COFFEENUT TREE. Plate 

 108. Medium sized trees; bark of trunks fissured, the ridges often curl- 

 ing up along the sides, very hard; twigs at first hairy, becoming glabrous 

 and mottled gray-brown by the end of the season, robust, usually about 

 1 cm. in diameter; leaves alternate, twice pinnate, 3-9 dm. long, 

 leaflets usually 6-10 pairs, ovate, generally from 3-4 cm. long, 

 generally oblique and rounded, wedge-shape or truncate at the base, 

 acute or very sharp-pointed at the apex, petiolules about 1 mm. long, 

 pubescent on both sides at first, becoming glabrous or nearly so at 

 maturity; flowers of two kinds, the male and female on separate trees, 

 appearing in May or June; fruit a pod generally about 1-2 dm. long, 

 thick, curved; seeds generally 4-7, large, flattened about 2 cm. in 

 diameter; wood heavy, not hard, coarse-grained and takes a high polish. 



Distribution. New York, southwestern Ontario to southern 

 Minnesota south to Tennessee and Arkansas. This species has been 

 reported or is known to exist in 33 counties in various parts of the State. 

 It no doubt was native to every county of the State, except it be those 

 bordering Lake Michigan from which we have no reports. It is a rare 

 tree in all parts. Only exceptionally is it found even frequently. A 

 few trees may be found in one place, and it will not be found again for 

 many miles. No doubt there are many areas with a radius of 5 to 10 

 miles where this tree never occurred. It is usually found in alluvial 

 soil along streams, or nearby terraces. 



Remarks. This species generally is not very tall, and is usually 

 found in open places in the forest or cut-over lands. However, one 

 specimen was seen in Posey County that was as tall as a specimen of 

 pecan of equal size that grew nearby. This species was so rare in this 

 vicinity that I was asked to drive three miles to identify this tree which 

 no one could name. 



Coffeenut, which is sometimes called Kentucky coffeenut, has always 

 been so rare as to be of little economic importance. It has no qualities 

 to recommend it for ornamental planting. 



FABACEAE. THE PEA FAMILY. 



Trees, shrubs, vines or herbs with alternate leaves, mostly compound; 

 flowers with five petals which are pea-like (papilionaceous); stamens 

 generally 10; fruit a legume. 



