Yellowwood
Lutea Virgilia, Cladrastis lutea
Etymology:
from greek Klados, "branch" and thraustos, "fragile" because of the brittle twigs. "Yellow wood" recalls that the wood turns yellow or brown when cut.
Origin: East of the United States.
Variety chinese : Cladrastis sinensis.
Habitat: tree few demanding on the nature of the soil, provided that it is deep and light.
Height: 12-15 m tall.
Shape: spread.
Bark : grey covered with pustules as a rhinoceros leather. She reminds the bark of the beech.
Leaves alternate, composed of 30 cm long; 7 - 11 leafletsalternate on both sides of the rachis ; final bigger leaflet than others (10 cm); they are colored with yellow in the fall. Sinuous, slender spine rachis.
White or yellow flowers, melliferous, of 2 cm grouped in long pendulous clusters (40 cm), in June (nice plants in the flower Park of Paris).
Fruits: flattened pods, of 5-10 cm, in August-September.
Uses: yellow wood, which tans in air (" Yellow wood ") with rifle butts, yellow dye. Yellow colors of fall foliage makes a beautiful ornamental tree. |