Gleditsia caspica
Caspian Locust
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Gleditsia genus in the family Leguminosae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Leguminosae
- Genus
- Gleditsia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- moderate
- Height
- 12 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The seed of several species can be eaten raw or cooked. This species often crops well in this country and so some research into its potential edibility would be desirable[K].
- Plant part
- Seed
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The closely related G. sinensis has a saponaceous pulp inside the seed pod that can be used as a soap substitute[2]. It is quite probable that this species can be similarly used[K]. Wood - strong, durable, coarse-grained[7].
- Product or use
- Soap
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy, Secondary canopy
Environment
- Range
- W. Asia - N. Iran, Transcaucasia.
- Habitat
- Broad-leaved forests in the low montane belt[5].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in spring in a greenhouse[6]. The seed should have swollen up, in which case it can be sown, if it has not swollen then soak it for another 24 hours in warm water. If this does not work then file away some of the seed coat but be careful not to damage the embryo[6]. Further soaking should then cause the seed to swell. One it has swollen, the seed should germinate within 2 - 4 weeks at 20°c. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual deep pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Give the plants some protection from the cold for their first few winters outdoors.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Easily grown in a loamy soil, requiring a sunny position[2]. Succeeds in most soils[4] including sandy ones[3]. Established plants tolerate drought[1] and atmospheric pollution[4]. This species is often confused in cultivation with the closely related G. sinensis, many of the trees grown under that name are this species[2]. This tree is remarkable for the number and length of the spines growing on its trunk, which makes it the most formidably armed of temperate trees[2]. Trees have a light canopy, they come into leaf late in the spring and drop their leaves in early autumn[4] making them an excellent top storey tree in a woodland garden. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[4].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Yakovlev. G. Sytin. A. & Roskov. Yu. Legumes of Northern Eurasia Royal Botanic gardens, Kew. 1996-00-00 ISBN 0-947643-97-4
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X