Gladicia vulgaris: description and photo

Gledicia vulgaris is quite a large tree. It grows up to 40-45 meters in height, with all its branches strewn with spines. Its flowering time is June. The tree is covered with yellow-green flowers, which form a groove-shaped brush. After them appear fruits - dark brown flat pods (beans), the length of which is up to 40 cm. Gledicia is also a good honey plant.

What is this tree?

On the territory of our country and near abroad gledicia was brought from North America, where it appeared. In our country, this tree is well established throughout the southern regions.

Gledicia vulgaris is a rare breed of wood, which is not afraid of drought. It grows well on desert and saline soils, where any other breeds die. It grows very quickly. Gladichia is not afraid of any pests, and it does not overcome disease. Moreover, it is also a soil-improving breed. During growth in the root system, a gradual accumulation of nitrogen occurs, which then enriches the soil on which the tree grows.

Appearance

What is Gledicia vulgaris? The description of the plant can be found below. Appearance and biological features remind a little of the familiar white acacia. The same feathery leaves, which reach about 30 cm in length, and during flowering small flowers of a greenish-yellow hue are blossoming. The first maturation of the fruit occurs in 8-10 years from the beginning of growth. Every year, it brings an abundant harvest of green beans, which are about 18-23 cm in length. Ripe fruit can be planted in trees throughout the winter.

The Gledicia common breeds both by seeds and shoots. Sprouts she can give throughout her life, which lasts about 85-90 years. The tree grows mainly in height, and the trunk remains slender, covered with bark of a grayish-brown hue. On the trunk section you can see the core of a dark brown color.

The Benefits of Thorns

Trees from top to bottom are covered with a set of sharp spikes - and not only branches, but also trunks. Because of this, looking at these trees, you feel as if they are wrapped in barbed wire. Therefore, in the people they have another name - "evil tree". The birds never nest their nests on them. A non-knowing person can be frightened by Gledicia vulgaris. A photo of the tree can be found in this article.

The plant is specially planted as protective forest belts. Also it can be used as a hedge. If you plant around your garden with gladichia in 3-4 rows, no person or animal will pass. Especially popular among landscape designers is the Gledicia vulgaris. Cultivation is carried out in specialized greenhouses, after which the plant is put up for sale.

There are varieties without thorns. This variety is considered decorative, and it can be used for gardening of urban areas. Socialists collect seeds and grow seedlings from them. Gledicia common nitrogen-fixing plants is represented.

The Benefits of Gledicia

The wood of Gledicia is quite strong, while it looks beautiful pattern. Therefore, it often makes furniture and other things for household use. The fruits of Gledicia are used as feed for pigs and wild boars.

She was also used as a treatment for some chronic diseases. Even Gledicia vulgaris is friends with nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, they live on this tree. They play a huge role in the natural cycle of nitrogen. The treated gas becomes suitable for use by higher plants.

Medicinal properties

Gledicia vulgaris is a poisonous plant, and the fruits of the tree are considered unsuitable for their use in medicine. Nevertheless, the young leaves of this tree are very useful raw materials. From it you can get alkaloid triacanthin (Triacanthinum). There are medicines in which there is a hydrochloric salt of this alkaloid obtained in laboratory conditions. Physicians appoint them to relieve spasms in various diseases of the digestive tract.

In addition, even an alkaloid relieves spasms of blood vessels and smooth muscles of some organs. Greater effectiveness of the use of triacanthine is seen when the spasms of the bronchi, stomach and intestines are removed. It also enhances coronary circulation. Triacanthin is similar to papaverine, but differs from it in that it is less toxic.

Therefore, it became a popular plant in folk medicine. Of the ripe fruit of this tree and its leaves, decoctions are prepared, which are a good addition to the treatment of all practical diseases related to the gastrointestinal tract.

Suitable raw materials for broth are the early leaves, which are collected in the spring, and ripe pods. The main active substance contained in them is the alkaloid triacanthin, which has already been mentioned above. But, in addition to it, fruits and leaves contain other useful substances, such as flavonoids and flannon compounds - olmelin, fizetin, saponin, etc.

Benefits of decoction

Bean hull contains tannins and vitamin K. Therefore, the result from the decoction will be the same as from the medications containing alkaloid triacanthin.

Recommend it to drink in some cases, for example:

• To relieve muscle spasms;
• Activate the respiratory center;
• Dilate the blood vessels;
• With hypertension;
• With a stomach ulcer;
• With cholecystitis.

It should be borne in mind that the action of the decoction from the leaves is weaker than from the fruit.

Contraindications

There are also contraindications to the use, because of which there may be side effects.

All this is due to the fact that the main constituent is the alkaloid triacanthin, and in large doses it is toxic. Accordingly, it should be borne in mind that the use of drugs inside which it is present may cause poisoning. It should immediately stop taking medication if the patient notes:

• Unhealthy pallor of the skin;
• Copious salivation;
• Nausea or vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• drowsiness;
• dizziness.

Uncontrolled use of decoction can lead to the process of destruction of erythrocytes, venous stasis of the brain, pneumonia, etc. If suddenly there was a suspicion of poisoning the organism, it is necessary to cancel the intake of drugs containing alkaloid triacanthin. If the malaise arose soon after the last reception of the decoction, you should rinse the stomach with potassium permanganate, then forcefully induce vomiting and drink activated charcoal. After this, consult a doctor.

In general, it is better not to experiment with herbs, if there is no experience. Such decoctions can be done only by knowledgeable people, while the dose must be able to competently calculate.