Laburnum anagyroides
Encyclopedia
Laburnum anagyroides is a species of small deciduous trees or large shrubs up to 7 m tall in the genus Laburnum
, native to Central
and Southern Europe
. It is a popular ornamental plant
, along with the other species in the genus, L. alpinum
, and especially the hybrid between them, L. × watereri. L. anagyroides blooms in late spring with pea-like, yellow flowers densely packed in pendulous raceme
s 10-20 cm (4-8 in) long. All parts of the plant contain cytisine
and are poisonous if consumed.
A shrub with smooth bark, dark green spreading branches and pendulous and pubescent twigs. The leaves (made of three leaflets) have a long pedunculus, are smooth on the upperside and hairy on the underside. The flowers are golden yellow and sweet scented, are grouped in pendulous racemes up to 25 cm long, and typically bloom in May. The seeds are legumes with large numbers of black seeds that contain cytisine
, an alkaloid
extremely poisonous to humans but also goats and horses, especially when not ripe. However, some wild animals such as hares and deer can feed on them without any problems, and because of this the plant is believed to have magic properties in some regions. The wood is hard and heavy, of a yellow/brown colour, ideal for making posts, for woodturning and as fuel. In the past (and today on historic re-enactments) it was used for making bows.
.
The English poet Francis Thompson
described the laburnum in one of his poems:
The writer J. R. R. Tolkien was inspired by the laburnum for his creation of Laurelin, one of the two mythological trees in The Silmarillion
, and Tolkien's description of it is strongly influenced by Thompson's verses.
Laburnum
Laburnum is a genus of two species of small trees in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae, Laburnum anagyroides and L. alpinum . They are native to the mountains of southern Europe from France to the Balkan Peninsula...
, native to Central
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
and Southern Europe
Southern Europe
The term Southern Europe, at its most general definition, is used to mean "all countries in the south of Europe". However, the concept, at different times, has had different meanings, providing additional political, linguistic and cultural context to the definition in addition to the typical...
. It is a popular ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
, along with the other species in the genus, L. alpinum
Laburnum alpinum
Laburnum alpinum is a leguminous flowering tree. It flowers in late spring, bearing panicles of yellow pea-like flowers. It is distributed in middle and southeast Europe.-References and external links:* USDA Plant Info...
, and especially the hybrid between them, L. × watereri. L. anagyroides blooms in late spring with pea-like, yellow flowers densely packed in pendulous raceme
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
s 10-20 cm (4-8 in) long. All parts of the plant contain cytisine
Cytisine
Cytisine, also known as baphitoxine and sophorine, is a pyridine-like alkaloid. In medical use, it improves the rate of smoking cessation. It is less effective but much cheaper than similar products. Its structure is similar to nicotine and has similar pharmacological effects...
and are poisonous if consumed.
Description
Cytisine
Cytisine, also known as baphitoxine and sophorine, is a pyridine-like alkaloid. In medical use, it improves the rate of smoking cessation. It is less effective but much cheaper than similar products. Its structure is similar to nicotine and has similar pharmacological effects...
, an alkaloid
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
extremely poisonous to humans but also goats and horses, especially when not ripe. However, some wild animals such as hares and deer can feed on them without any problems, and because of this the plant is believed to have magic properties in some regions. The wood is hard and heavy, of a yellow/brown colour, ideal for making posts, for woodturning and as fuel. In the past (and today on historic re-enactments) it was used for making bows.
Distribution and habitat
Grows and flowers in damp and mild habitats, especially in calcareous soil (Southern Europe).Curiosities
The tree is also known as false ebony since the wood from very old individuals could be used in place of ebonyEbony
Ebony is a dense black wood, most commonly yielded by several species in the genus Diospyros, but ebony may also refer to other heavy, black woods from unrelated species. Ebony is dense enough to sink in water. Its fine texture, and very smooth finish when polished, make it valuable as an...
.
The English poet Francis Thompson
Francis Thompson
Francis Thompson was an English poet and ascetic. After attending college, he moved to London to become a writer, but in menial work, became addicted to opium, and was a street vagrant for years. A married couple read his poetry and rescued him, publishing his first book, Poems in 1893...
described the laburnum in one of his poems:
The writer J. R. R. Tolkien was inspired by the laburnum for his creation of Laurelin, one of the two mythological trees in The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion is a collection of J. R. R. Tolkien's mythopoeic works, edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, with assistance from Guy Gavriel Kay, who later became a noted fantasy writer. The Silmarillion, along with J. R. R...
, and Tolkien's description of it is strongly influenced by Thompson's verses.