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Summary

Bloom Color: Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Irregular or sprawling, Rounded.

Physical Characteristics

Gleditsia sinensis is a deciduous Tree growing to 12 m (39ft 4in) at a medium rate.
It is hardy to zone (UK) 5. 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: acid, neutral and basic (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

Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed
Edible Uses:

The seed is roasted, dehusked, soaked until soft then boiled and eaten with sugar[179]. Young leaves - cooked. A famine food used when all else fails[177].

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.
Anthelmintic Antibacterial Antifungal Antipruritic Antitussive Astringent Emetic Expectorant
Febrifuge Haemostatic Laxative Skin Stimulant VD

A decoction of the leaves is used for washing sores[218], including syphilitic skin diseases[174]. The stem bark is anthelmintic and febrifuge[218]. The fruit is antibacterial, antifungal, antitussive, astringent, emetic, expectorant, haemostatic and stimulant[174, 176, 178, 218]. It is used in the treatment of bronchial asthma with sticky phlegm, epilepsy and apoplexy with loss of consciousness[176]. Overdosage can cause poisoning of the entire body, haemolysis of the blood[176]. The seed is emetic, expectorant, decongestant and purgative[147, 218]. They have been used in the treatment of cancer of the rectum[218]. The root bark is anthelmintic and antifebrile[218]. The thorns on the plant are antipruritic[176]. They are used in the treatment of acute purulent inflammation, dermatopathies and tonsillitis[176]. They should not be used by pregnant women[176]. The plant has been used in the treatment of lockjaw, stroke, acute numbness of the throat and epilepsy, but the report does not make clear whether the seed or the thorns of the plant are used[147]

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Other Uses

Soap Tannin Wood

The pod is used as a soap substitute[46, 61]. The seed is used[178]. Tannin is obtained from the seedpod[61]. Wood - strong, durable, coarse-grained[82]. Used for general construction[46, 61].

Special Uses

Nitrogen Fixer

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Rock garden, Specimen. 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]. Rather tender when young, it grows best in S. Britain[11]. A tree at Cambridge Botanical Gardens was 13 metres tall in 1985[11]. 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 top storey tree in 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]. Special Features:Not North American native, Fragrant flowers, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

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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

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

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 Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Gleditsia aquatica	Water Locust	Tree	12.0	5-9	S	LMH	N	MWe	0	0
Gleditsia caspica	Caspian Locust	Tree	12.0	6-8	M	LMH	N	DM	1	0
Gleditsia japonica		Tree	20.0	5-9	M	LMH	N	DM	3	1
Gleditsia koraiensis	Korean Honey Locust	Tree	20.0	-		LMH	N	DM	2	2
Gleditsia macracantha		Tree	18.0	5-9	M	LMH	N	DM	0	1
Gleditsia triacanthos	Honey Locust	Tree	20.0	4-8	M	LMH	N	DM	3	2	2

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

Lam.

Botanical References

11109200

Links / References

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

Readers comment


	Tue Apr 27 12:02:47 2004

Chinese locust

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Gleditsia sinensis - Lam.