bonduc

A noun referring to a handsome tree of central and eastern North America with large bipinnate leaves and green-white flowers, followed by large woody brown pods whose seeds are used as a coffee substitute; also a tropical tree with large prickly pods of seeds that resemble beans and are used for jewelry and rosaries.

• 🇪🇸Sustantivo que designa un árbol vistoso del centro y este de América del Norte, con grandes hojas doblemente pinnadas y flores blanco verdosas seguidas de grandes vainas leñosas marrones, cuyas semillas se usan como sucedáneo del café; también un árbol tropical con grandes vainas espinosas que contienen semillas parecidas a habas, empleadas en adornos y rosarios.

1. Gymnocladus dioicus (Kentucky coffeetree) C1 formal american scientific

   A tall tree native to central and eastern North America, characterized by large, twice-divided leaves, greenish-white flowers, and large, woody, brown seed pods. The seeds inside the pods have been historically used as a substitute for coffee.

   • The bonduc tree, also known as the Kentucky coffeetree, can reach heights of over 20 meters.
   • Pioneers in North America once roasted the seeds of the bonduc to make a coffee-like drink.
   • The large, bipinnate leaves of the bonduc provide a dappled shade in the summer.

   🇪🇸Gymnocladus dioicus

   Sinónimos: coffee treekentucky coffee tree

2. Guilandina bonduc (Gray nicker or nickerbean) C1 formal scientific

   A tropical tree or large shrub with prickly stems and large, spiny seed pods. The hard, bean-like seeds are often used to make jewelry, rosaries, and other decorative items.

   • The seeds of the bonduc are so hard that they are sometimes called 'sea pearls'.
   • In many tropical cultures, the bonduc's seeds are polished and strung into necklaces.
   • The spiny pods of the bonduc tree make it difficult to handle without gloves.

   🇪🇸Guilandina bonduc (nicker gris o haba de nicker)