5 Graines Sophora du Japon, Arbre des pagodes

Tree of pagodas, Japan Sophora, Styphnolobium Japanicum |

Styphnolobium Japanicum, the Sophora of Japan or Honey tree , is a species oftrees of the family of Fabaceae. Although his name indicates that he is from Japan, he is actually from China3.

5 seeds -  Rusticity: - 10 ° C - Soak the seeds 24 hours in the water before sowing to 18/20 ° C

The Japanese sophora is a deciduous tree, with a majestic, wide and rounded port. This rapid, robust and vigorous growing tree can measure up to 25 M high. The dark gray bark is covered longitudinal cracks. The young twigs are brittle, green and dotted with numerous lenticels10. Its rooting is superficial and tracing. It is rather suitable for large gardens or parks unless we choose cultivars of reduced size. Its large compound sheets (from 30 CM approximately) are impariated at 9-15 pairs of leaflets, ovals-lanceoles or oval-oblongs, from 2.5–6 cm long on 1.5–3 cm wide, with acuminate apex, papyracés, glaucous and little to densely pubescent in the lower part, generally becoming Glabres11.

Its inflorescences are in Terminal Panicles , creamy white, which can measure up to 30 CM long. The Flower Papilionaceae has a Calice Shortly Campanule, with 5 teeth, a Corolle White, or cream yellow sometimes tinged with purple. It has ten stamens of unequal length. Its flowering in flavored white cream panicles appears in the middle or end of summer (July-August). Thanks to the abundance of flowers (in China12), it provides an excellent source of Nectar.

It gives pods (6-8 cm long by 1 cm wide) fleshy, green, moniliform (presenting strangles between the seeds) containing 1 to 6 toxic seeds. These are greenish yellow then black brownish when they have dried.

In China, the species called 槐 Huái (or 槐 树 Huáishù, 国槐 Guohuai, 家 槐 Jiahuai), has been planted for a very long time. Its culture is described in the Qi min Yao Shu (齐民 要术) " Techniques essential for the peasantry " (around 535) 13, work on agriculture in ten volumes.

It is a rustic tree (USDA zone 4-10) enjoying all types of draining soils and exposure in full sun. It is well suited to dry climatic conditions. Under the tropics, its culture is only possible in dry regions or high altitudes6. It supports the size but its wood becomes brittle with age. It is therefore better to avoid a windy location. multiplication by sowing but only flowers from its twentieth year.

In China, it is planted as a alignment tree for shade along the streets and as an ornamental tree in parks and residential areas12.

Supporting atmospheric pollutionwell, it is widely used in temperate countries as a tree of alignment or ornament. It is one of the most common alignment trees in the streets of Paris for example.

Contents subject to the CC-BY-SA license 3.0. Source : Article Styphnolobium Japanicum from Wikipedia in French (Authors)