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Gleditsia japonica - Miq.

Common Name
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Damp sandy soils[200]
Range E. Asia - Japan.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Gleditsia japonica


biolib.de
Gleditsia japonica
biolib.de

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Gleditsia japonica is a deciduous Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 12 m (39ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

G. horrida. non Salisb.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed - cooked. The seed is roasted, dehusked, soaked until soft then boiled and eaten with sugar[179]. The seed contains 22.4% protein and 2.8% fat[218]. Young leaves - cooked[105]. A famine food used when all else fails[177].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antitussive  Astringent  Expectorant  Haemostatic  Skin  VD

Antitussive, astringent, expectorant, haemostatic, skin[174]. Treats syphilitic skin diseases[174].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Soap

A soap is obtained from the pulp contained in the seedpods[11, 46, 61, 174]. It is obtained from the seed according to another report[105]. Wood - strong, durable, coarse-grained[82].

Special Uses

Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in a loamy soil, requiring a sunny position[11]. Succeeds in most soils[200]. Tolerates drought once established[1] and atmospheric pollution[200]. A rather tender plant, especially when young, it is seen at its best in southern Britain[11]. Older trees, however, are completely hardy in Britain[11]. Trees at Kew produced lots of pods and fertile seeds in the hot summer of 1989, they also fruited well in the cool summer of 1993 and also in 1994, 95 and 96[K]. Trees are cultivated for their seedpods in Japan[61]. Trees have a light canopy, they come into leaf late in the spring and drop their leaves in early autumn[200] making them an excellent canopy tree for a woodland garden. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. 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[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in spring in a greenhouse[78]. 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[78]. 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Anhui Sheng, Guizhou Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hunan Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Shandong Sheng, Yunnan Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng), Korea, Japan (Honshu (c. & s.), Kyushu, Shikoku)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Gleditsia aquaticaWater LocustTree12.0 5-9 SLMHNMWe003
Gleditsia caspicaCaspian LocustTree12.0 6-8 MLMHNDM102
Gleditsia koraiensisKorean Honey LocustTree20.0 -  LMHNDM222
Gleditsia macracantha Tree18.0 5-9 MLMHNDM012
Gleditsia sinensisLocustTree12.0 8-9 MLMHNDM332
Gleditsia triacanthosHoney LocustTree20.0 4-8 MLMHNDM322

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Miq.

Botanical References

1158200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Tue Apr 27 12:01:08 2004

Japanese locust

   Tue Apr 27 12:01:08 2004

Japonese locust

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