Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Styphnolobium japonicum

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Kingdom
  
Family
  
Tribe
  
Sophoreae

Scientific name
  
Styphnolobium japonicum

Rank
  
Species

Order
  
Subfamily
  
Genus
  
Styphnolobium

Higher classification
  
Styphnolobium

Styphnolobium japonicum Styphnolobium japonicum Japanese pagoda tree Sophora japonica

Similar
  
Platanus orientalis, Sophora, Black locust, Weeping willow, Persian silk tree

Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott, the Japanese pagoda tree (Chinese scholar tree, pagoda tree; syn. Sophora japonica) is a species of tree in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae.

Contents

Styphnolobium japonicum japonicum

It was formerly included within a broader interpretation of the genus Sophora. The species of Styphnolobium differ from Sophora in lacking the ability to form symbioses with rhizobia (nitrogen fixing bacteria) on their roots. It also differs from the related genus Calia (mescalbeans) in having deciduous leaves and flowers in axillary, not terminal, racemes. The leaves are alternate, pinnate, with 9-21 leaflets, and the flowers in pendulous racemes similar to those of the Black locust.

Styphnolobium japonicum Pagoda Tree Styphnolobium japonicum

Distribution

Styphnolobium japonicum Pagoda Tree Styphnolobium japonicum

Styphnolobium japonicum is native to China; despite the name, it was introduced in Japan. It is a popular ornamental tree in Europe, North America and South Africa, grown for its white flowers, borne in late summer after most other flowering trees have long finished flowering. It grows into a lofty tree 10–20 m tall with an equal spread, and produces a fine, dark brown timber.

Gardening

Styphnolobium japonicum Styphnolobium japonicum Japanese pagoda tree fruit stringy Other

The Guilty Chinese Scholartree was a historic pagoda tree in Beijing, from which the last emperor of the Ming dynasty, Chongzhen, hanged himself.

Traditional medicine

Styphnolobium japonicum httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

S. japonicum (Chinese: ; pinyin: huái; formerly Sophora japonica) is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Construction uses

Styphnolobium japonicum FileStyphnolobiumjaponicum20130915jpg Wikimedia Commons

Used to make the strong, springy curved "enju wood" handle used on the traditional Japanese woodworking adze, called the chouna.

Medicinal properties

It has abortifacient, antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, diuretic, emetic, emollient, febrifuge, hypotensive, purgative, styptic, and tonic properties.

Chemistry

S. japonicum contains the isoflavone glycoside sophoricoside.

Chinese etymology

Styphnolobium japonicum Styphnolobium japonicum L Schott

The Chinese name for the tree (槐) is composed of the word 木 ("wood") and 鬼 ("demon"). In folklore, it is said that a cowherder once built a home out of this species of tree, and within a month his entire family was suddenly found dead, with no signs of foul play. It was therefore believed that demons are drawn to this tree and it is therefore not appropriate to use its wood to build homes. In addition, in the wild, other species of tree rarely grow near it.

References

Styphnolobium japonicum Wikipedia