*Kentucky coffeetree

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*Gymnocladus dioicus
KENTUCKY COFFEETREE

Fabaceae
Midwestern North America

Location: map coordinates H-35 (southeast corner of Price Building), N 39°11'12'' W 75°32'23''

Planting history: presently unknown.

Description:
  • deciduous tree
  • etymology: Gymnocladus from Greek gymnos for naked, and cladus a branch (because tree sheds leaves early in autumn, and leafs out late in the spring); dioicus = dioecious
  • leaves twice- or once- compound
  • flowers greenish-white, ca 1/3” wide, in clusters
  • polygamo-dioecious: mostly dioecious (separate male and female trees), and occasionally with perfect flowers. This tree is male
  • fruits distinctive thick woody pods, 3"-10" long
  • roasted seeds formerly used during the Civil War as a coffee substitute (but fruit pulp and unroasted seeds may be poisonous)

*Non-native species (not native to Delaware)

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Fruit from a different, female, tree (not on DSU campus).

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