Gymno'cladus

Gymno'cladus, a genus of trees of the natural order Leguminosæ, sub-order Cæsalpineæ.—G. Canadensis is a North American tree, found both in Canada and over a great part of the United States, attaining a height of 50 to 60 feet, with branches remarkable for their upright direction, and an exceedingly rough bark which comes off in slips. The leaves of young trees are very large, three feet long, bipinnate, armed with thorns. The flowers are white in short spikes. The pods are five inches long by two broad. The tree is called Chicot in Canada, and sometimes Stump Tree, from its dead appearance in winter, and the absence of conspicuous buds. It is also called the Kentucky Coffee Tree, because the seeds were formerly roasted and ground as coffee in Kentucky. It grows well in Britain. The wood is used both by cabinet-makers and by carpenters. It has very little sapwood. The pods, preserved like those of the tamarind, are said to be wholesome and slightly aperient.