2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Bunduk (lat. Gymnocladus) Is a genus of deciduous trees of the Legume family. The genus includes only two species, one of which is found naturally in North America, and the second in China. Typical habitats are humid forests, river valleys, lowlands and lower reaches of mountains.
Characteristics of culture
Bunduk is a deciduous tree up to 20 m high with a rounded crown. The root system is powerful, sparsely branched, forming a dense growth in the process of growth, from which it is rather difficult to get rid of. The trunk is slender, up to 80-100 cm in diameter. The bark is deeply cracked, light gray or grayish brown. On the shoots, the bark is darker in color.
Leaves are leathery, large, double-pinnate, pinkish when blooming, later - bright green. In autumn, the foliage becomes pale yellowish. The flowers are small, white-yellow, with a pronounced lemon aroma.
Female flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences, male flowers - in paniculate ones. Flowering lasts about 10 days. The fruit is a rather large pod, up to 20 cm long, has a reddish-brown color, becomes blackish-bluish when ripe. The seeds are shiny, brown, surrounded by a jelly-like green liquid or sticky brownish flesh.
A jelly-like liquid is often used as a soap, which is why the plant is often called a soap tree. Coil seeds are used as a substitute for coffee, hence another name - the Kentucky coffee tree. The bunch boasts drought and frost resistance. Mature trees can withstand frosts down to -35C.
* Bundu dioecious, or Canadian (lat. Gymnocladus dioicus) - the species is represented by luxurious trees with a rounded crown, reaching a diameter of 8 m. The bark is light gray, the shoots are dark gray, pubescent. The leaves are glabrous, bipinnate. The flowers are very fragrant, both female and male flowers are formed on the same tree. Differs in rapid growth and light-requiring. It is used for landscaping parks and alleys, as well as personal backyard plots. Looks great in combination with ash, oak, maple, chestnut and other ornamental shrubs and trees.
* Chinese Bunduk (lat. Gymnocladus chinensis Baill) - the species is represented by tall trees, differing from the previous species only in shades of flowers (lilac-purple), smaller leaves and fruits. It is cultivated mainly in Central Asia and the Caucasus; it often freezes out on the territory of Ukraine. Not suitable for growing in central Russia.
Growing conditions
The hopper feels good in sunny areas, light shading will not harm. It is not recommended to plant other tall trees nearby, they will close the culture's access to light, which will subsequently adversely affect development. The soils should be fertile, deep, loamy or sandy. Also, the hopper accepts poor weakly acidic or dry alkaline soils. Waterlogged and heavy soils are not suitable for growing crops.
Reproduction
The bundle is propagated by seeds, cuttings and root suckers. The seed method is the most common. Seeds do not need stratification, but scarification is required. To do this, before sowing, the seeds are soaked in warm water for 24 hours, then in sulfuric acid for 1, 5-2 hours. After soaking, the seeds are thoroughly washed with running water, dried and only after that they are sown in seedling boxes.
Care
Rare watering is required. Top dressing is also necessary, two dressings are enough per season: the first is carried out in early spring, the second - in late autumn. Bunduk is often affected by various pests and diseases, therefore, treatments are carried out systematically. Sanitary and formative pruning is done in late winter or early spring, but only at the moment when the plant is completely dormant.
Application
As mentioned above, the hopper is perfect for landscaping alleys, parks and home gardens. It looks harmonious in both single and group plantings.
The jelly-like liquid inside the fruit is used not only as a soap, but also as a shampoo. This substance differs from an ordinary detergent in that it does not contain surfactants, this makes it useful in every sense of the word.
The crushed seeds are ideal against cockroaches and bedbugs, and can also be used by those looking to quit smoking. A coffee drink made from coarse seeds increases libido, strengthens the immune system and stimulates brain activity.
