Gymnocladus. Kentucky Coffee-Tree, Kentucky Mahogany. Gymnocladus dioica.
Gymnocladus. Gymnocladus dioica (L.) Koch. Kentucky Coffee-tree. Kentucky Mahogany. (Fam. Leguminosae.)—A tall tree with pinnate leaves growing in the woods from New York southward and west as far as Oklahoma. The fruit is an oblong flattened pod containing several seeds in a fleshy pulp. The seeds are flattish and about 1 cm. in diameter. According to Bartholow, the aqueous extract of the seeds is toxic. (Am. Drug., April, 1886.) Samuel S. Mell (A. J. P., 1887, 230) obtained from them by petroleum benzin about 10 per cent. of fixed oil which is yellowish, saponifiable, and of sp. gr. 0.919. Ether extracted a little wax, fat, and resin. A little tannin and a small quantity of glucoside were also obtained. This latter had a peculiar odor and an acid burning taste. James H. Martin (A. J. P., 1892, 558) obtained a yellow, saponifiable oil from the bean and the bark and a glucoside from the pulp.
