bonduc

• Nom désignant un bel arbre d'Amérique du Nord centrale et orientale aux grandes feuilles bipennées et aux fleurs blanc verdâtre, suivies de grandes gousses ligneuses brunes dont les graines servent de substitut de café ; désigne aussi un arbre tropical à grandes gousses épineuses contenant des graines en forme de haricot utilisées pour les ornements et les chapelets.

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.

1. Gymnocladus dioicus (Kentucky coffeetree)C1formalamericanscientific

   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.

   Gymnocladus dioicus (arbre)

   • 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.

   Synonymescoffee treekentucky coffee tree

2. Guilandina bonduc (Gray nicker or nickerbean)C1formalscientific

   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.

   Guilandina bonduc (Nicker gris)

   • 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.