Bunduk
Bunduk (lat. Gymnocladus) is a genus of deciduous trees of the Legume family. The genus includes only two species, one of which occurs naturally in North America, and the second in China.
Typical habitats are moist forests, river valleys, lowlands and lower mountains.
Characteristics of culture
Bunduk is a deciduous tree up to 20 m high with a rounded crown. The root system is powerful, poorly branched, forming dense growth during the growth process, which is quite difficult to get rid of. The trunk is slender, up to 80-100 cm in diameter. The bark is deeply fissured, light gray or grayish-brown. The bark on the shoots is darker in color.
The leaves are leathery, large, double-pinnate, pinkish when blooming, later bright green. In autumn the foliage turns pale yellowish. The flowers are small, white-yellow, and have a distinct lemon aroma.
Female flowers are collected in racemes, while male flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences. Flowering lasts about 10 days. The fruit is a fairly large bean, up to 20 cm long, has a reddish-brown color, becoming blackish-bluish when ripe. The seeds are shiny, brown, surrounded by a jelly-like green liquid or sticky brownish pulp.
The jelly-like liquid is often used as soap, which is why the plant is often called the soap tree. Bunduk seeds are used as a coffee substitute, hence another name — Kentucky coffee tree. Bunduk boasts drought and frost resistance. Mature trees can withstand frosts down t o-35C.
*Gymnocladus dioicus (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 bare, double-pinnate. The flowers are very fragrant; both male and female flowers are formed on the same tree. It is distinguished by its rapid growth and light-loving nature. It is used for landscaping parks and alleys, as well as personal 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 the shades of flowers (lilac-purple), smaller size of leaves and fruits. It is cultivated mainly in Central Asia and the Caucasus; it often freezes out in Ukraine. Not suitable for cultivation in central Russia.
Growing conditions
The bunduk feels good in sunny areas; light shading will not harm. It is not recommended to plant other tall trees nearby; they will block the crop’s access to light, which will subsequently have a detrimental effect on development. The soil should be fertile, deep, loamy or sandy. Bunduk also accepts poor, slightly acidic or dry alkaline soils. Waterlogged and heavy soils are not suitable for growing crops.
Reproduction
Bunduk 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 then sown in seedling boxes.
Care
Rare watering is required. Feeding is also necessary; two feedings per season are sufficient: the first is carried out in early spring, the second in late autumn. Bunduk is often affected by various pests and diseases, so treatments are carried out systematically. Sanitary and formative pruning is carried out at the end of winter or early spring, but only at a time when the plant is completely at rest.
Application
As mentioned above, bunduk is perfect for landscaping alleys, parks and garden plots. It looks harmonious both in single and group plantings.
The jelly-like liquid found inside the fruit is used not only as soap, but also as shampoo. This substance differs from a regular detergent in that it does not contain surfactants, which makes it useful in every sense of the word.
Crushed seeds are an ideal remedy against cockroaches and bedbugs, in addition, it can be used by those who want to get rid of the smoking habit. A coffee drink made from bunduk seeds increases libido, strengthens the immune system and stimulates brain activity.
