Gleditsia
Encyclopedia
Gleditsia is a genus
of locust
tree
s in the family Fabaceae
, subfamily Caesalpinioideae
, native to North America
and Asia
. The Latin name commemorates Johann Gottlieb Gleditsch, director of the Berlin
Botanical Gardens, who died in 1786.
There are 12 species:
Hybrids
, where it is called zào jiá (皂荚).
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of locust
Locust tree
Locust tree can mean:* Any of a number of tree species in the genera Gleditsia or Robinia* Honey locust, a leguminous tree with pods having a sweet, edible pulp* Black locust, a leguminous tree with toxic pods but useful for making honey...
tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s in the family Fabaceae
Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
, subfamily Caesalpinioideae
Caesalpinioideae
Caesalpinioideae is a botanical name at the rank of subfamily, placed in the large family Fabaceae or Leguminosae. Its name is formed from the generic name Caesalpinia....
, native to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. The Latin name commemorates Johann Gottlieb Gleditsch, director of the Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
Botanical Gardens, who died in 1786.
There are 12 species:
- Gleditsia amorphoides (Griseb.) Taubert
- Gleditsia aquatica Marshall - Water locustWater locustGleditsia aquatica, commonly called water locust, after its habitat of river swamps and slough margins.-External links:* Diagnostic photographs and information. Morton Arboretum acc. 432-54-1...
- Gleditsia australis F. B. Forbes & Hemsley
- Gleditsia caspica Desf. - Caspian locust
- Gleditsia delavayi Franchet
- Gleditsia fera (Lour.) Merr.
- Gleditsia ferox Desf.
- Gleditsia japonica Miq. - Japanese honey locust
- Gleditsia macracantha Desf.
- Gleditsia microphylla Isely
- Gleditsia sinensisGleditsia sinensisGleditsia sinensis is a species of flowering plant native to Asia.-Etymology:In China, the Gleditsia sinensisit plant is commonly known as zào jiá . The English equivalents include includes Chinese honey locust , soap bean and soap pod.-Medicinal uses:It is one of the alleged "50 fundamental herbs"...
Lam. - Chinese honey locust - Gleditsia triacanthos L. - Honey locustHoney locustThe Honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos, is a deciduous tree native to central North America. It is mostly found in the moist soil of river valleys ranging from southeastern South Dakota to New Orleans and central Texas, and as far east as eastern Massachusetts.-Description:Honey locusts, Gleditsia...
- Gleditsia triacanthos inermis - Thornless honey locust
Hybrids
- Gleditsia × texana Sarg. - Texas Honey locustTexas Honey locustThe Texas Honey locust is a tree native to America....
(G. aquatica × G. triacanthos)
Medicinal use
G. sinensis is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in Chinese herbologyChinese herbology
Chinese Herbology is the theory of Traditional Chinese herbal therapy, which accounts for the majority of treatments in Traditional Chinese medicine ....
, where it is called zào jiá (皂荚).