Gymnocladus chinensis
Gymnocladus chinensis
Safety & Hazards
The seedpod contains saponins and has been used as a fish poison[ 178 Title Chinese Materia Medica. Publication Author Stuart. Rev. G. A. Publisher Taipei. Southern Materials Centre Year 1911 ISBN - Description A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating. ]. Although poisonous, saponins also have a range of medicinal applications and many saponin-rich plants are used in herbalism (particularly as emetics, expectorants and febrifuges) or as sources of raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. Saponins are also found in a number of common foods, such as many beans. Saponins have a quite bitter flavour and are in general poorly absorbed by the human body, so most pass through without harm. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of raw foods that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to many cold-blooded creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish and make them easy to catch[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ].
Botanical Description
Gymnocladus chinensis is a deciduous tree growing 5 - 12 metres tall[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, source of soap and sometimes as a food. The seedpods are sold in local markets for use as a food, medicine and a soap[ 178 Title Chinese Materia Medica. Publication Author Stuart. Rev. G. A. Publisher Taipei. Southern Materials Centre Year 1911 ISBN - Description A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating. ]. The tree is sometimes grown as an ornamental.