Introduction
The locust tree, also known as the Chinese locust tree, has a tall tree shape and its pinnate compound leaves are similar to that of Robinia pseudoacacia. The flowers are light yellow and can be cooked and eaten as well as traditional Chinese medicine or dyes. Unopened Sophora japonica is commonly known as "Sophora japonica", which is a kind of Chinese medicine. The flowering period is at the end of summer, which is different from the flowering period of other tree species. It is an important nectar plant. Flowers and pods are used as medicine to cool and astringe, stop bleeding and lower blood pressure; leaves and root bark have heat-clearing and detoxifying effects, which can treat sores; wood is used for construction. The kernels contain starch, which can be used for brewing or making paste and feed. Bark, branches and leaves, flower buds, flowers and seeds can all be used as medicine.
The panicle is terminal, often pyramid-shaped, up to 30 cm long; the pedicel is shorter than the calyx; 2 bracteoles, shaped like small stipules; the calyx is shallowly campanulate, about 4 mm long, and the calyx teeth are 5, nearly as large, round Shaped or obtuse triangle, gray-white pubescent, calyx tube nearly glabrous; corolla white or light yellow, flag petals nearly round, length and width about 11 mm, short stalk, purple veining, apex slightly absent, base Shallow heart-shaped, wing petals oval-oblong, 10 mm long, 4 mm wide, apex rounded, base oblique halberd, no wrinkles, keel petals are broad ovate-oblong, equal length to wing petals, width up to 6 Mm; stamens nearly separated, persistent; ovary nearly glabrous.
Pods are beaded, 2.5-5 cm long or slightly longer, with a diameter of about 10 mm. The constriction between the seeds is not obvious. The seeds are arranged tightly, with a fleshy pericarp, without cracking after maturity, with 1-6 seeds; seeds ovoid, Yellowish green, dark brown after drying. Flowering from June to July, fruiting from August to October.
Chinese Sophora is a characteristic tree commonly used in courtyards. Its branches and leaves are dense and the green shade is like a cover. It is suitable for garden shade trees and is mostly used as street trees in northern China. It is also very suitable for planting in parks, buildings, neighborhoods, residential areas and lawns. Sophora japonicus should be planted in front of the door or in rows, or planted alone beside the rock of the Tingtai Mountain. It can also be used for greening in industrial and mining areas. It has flowers in summer and autumn and is an excellent nectar plant. Flower buds can be used as dyes, fruit pulp can be used as medicine, and seeds can be used as feed. It is also a tree species used for windbreak and sand fixation, timber and economic forest. It is a good shade tree and street tree species in urban and rural areas, and has strong resistance to toxic gases such as sulfur dioxide and chlorine. Sophora japonica is also a tree species that can be selected as a mixed forest.
