Gleditsia macracantha
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
- 18 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The twigs and the leaves contain the alkaloids gleditschine and stenocarpine[7]. Stenocarpine has been used as a local anaesthetic whilst gleditschine causes stupor and loss of reflex activity[7].
- Product or use
- Anaesthetic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A soap substitute is obtained from the seedpods[8][9][2]. Wood - strong, durable, coarse-grained[11].
- Product or use
- Soap
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China.
- Habitat
- Streamsides and open country at low altitudes[2].
- 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[10]. 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[10]. 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[3]. Succeeds in most soils[5] including sandy ones[4]. Tolerates drought once established[1] and atmospheric pollution[5]. Rather tender when young, it grows best in S. Britain[3]. Trees have a light canopy, they come into leaf late in the spring and drop their leaves in early autumn[5] making them an excellent top storey tree in a woodland garden. The flowers have a delightful vanilla fragrance[6]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[5]. 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[5].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.
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
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
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