Fabaceae FAMILY

Gleditsia japonica

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Gleditsia japonica is a deciduous tree usually growing 18 - 21 metres tall. The trunk and branches are very formidably armed with branched, slightly flattened spines[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. ]. The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It issometimes cultivated for its various uses, especially in agroforestry systems in China, Japan and Korea, and is grown as a hedge[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeE. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.

HabitatDamp sandy soils[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. Sunny slopes, valleys, streamsides, near roads and in forests at elevations of 100 - 2500 metres in northeast China[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].