Scientific Name
Gymnocladus dioicus
Common Name
Kentucky coffee tree

CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Fabaceae
Plant Description
Large, rough-barked, deciduous tree; leaves alternate, 2-pinnately divided, the leaflets with smooth margins; flowers small, 5-parted, in a large terminal cluster; fruit a flat pod with 4-7 seeds with a sticky pulp between them.
Origin
USA
Where Found
Landscape as cultivated landscape and street tree.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
In fruit, pulp between the seeds, mistaken for the sweet, non-toxic pulp of the honey locust.
Symptoms
Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, irregular pulse, coma.
Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: Seeds, roasted and ground, can be used as a substitute for coffee. It does not have caffeine.
Toxic Principle
Alkaloid cytisine.
Severity
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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