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Kentucky yellowwood
Scientific Name: Cladrastis kentukea
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Tree
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Kentucky Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)
Common Names
- Kentucky Yellowwood
- American Yellowwood
- Gopherwood
- Yellowwood
- Virgilia
- Yellow Wood
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cladrastis kentukea (Dum.-Cs.) Rudd
- Family: Fabaceae (Pea family)
- Synonyms: Cladrastis lutea, Cladrastis tinctoria, Cladrastis kentuckea (Note: some instances list "kentuckea" as a misspelling of "kentukea")
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to the Southeastern United States, specifically from North Carolina to Kentucky and Tennessee.
- Most common along the Kentucky River palisades in the Bluegrass region of Eastern Kentucky.
- Found in isolated locations across its native range.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- A small to medium-sized deciduous tree, typically reaching up to 50 feet in height.
- Often as wide as it is tall, with a broad crown and graceful, pendulous branches.
- May have a forking trunk.
- Leaves become brilliant in mid-autumn.
Ecological Role
- Considered a threatened species in splintered areas of eastern North America.
Quirky Facts
- The name "Yellowwood" comes from the color of its heartwood, which yields a yellow dye. The wood itself is described as bright yellow when freshly cut.
- Its flowers are fragrant and white, growing in panicles.
Further Information
- Encyclopedia of Life: Provides comprehensive information and articles about Cladrastis kentukea.
- Dave's Garden: A community forum for sharing gardening tips and ideas.
- Bioimages at Vanderbilt: Contains images of Cladrastis kentukea. A stable URL for linking to the page is provided.
- Discover Life: Page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Cladrastis kentukea.