Styphnolobium japonicum, the听Japanese pagoda tree听(also known as the听Chinese scholar tree听and听pagoda tree; syn.听Sophora japonica) is a species of听听in the subfamily听听of the pea family听.
It was formerly included within a broader interpretation of the genus听. The species of听Styphnolobium听differ from听Sophora听in lacking the ability to form听听飞颈迟丑听听(听) on their听. It also differs from the related genus听听(mescalbeans) in having听听听and听听in axillary, not terminal,听. The leaves are alternate,听, with nine to 21 leaflets, and the flowers in pendulous racemes similar to those of the听.
Distribution
Styphnolobium japonicum听is native to听; despite the name, it was introduced in听. It is a popular ornamental tree in听,听听and听, grown for its white flowers, borne in late summer after most other flowering trees have long finished flowering. It grows to 10鈥�20 m tall with an equal spread, and produces a fine, dark brown timber.[]
Uses
Historical events
The听听was a historic pagoda tree in听, from which the last emperor of the听,听, hanged himself.[]
Traditional medicine
S. japonicum听(:听;听:听丑耻谩颈; formerly听Sophora japonica) is one of the听听used in听. Its fruits have stress resistance and antioxidant properties.
Tea
The flowers and leaves are sometimes used for teas, such as by families in Laoshan Village,听, China. It counts as a variety of herbal tea.[]
Construction uses
The wood is used to make the strong, springy curved "enju wood" handle used on the traditional Japanese woodworking adze, called the听.听Pagoda wood is very hard after drying. This makes pagoda products durable and long lasting. The pagoda tree trunk is generally composed of alternating ridges of light-brown outside layers and gray brown inside layers. This makes wood carving products, for example from the Hokkaido native Ainu people, very decorative. The Ainu are famous for their "Blackstone fish owl" carvings.
Chemistry
The dried flower buds may contain as much as 20%听听with some听.听S. japonicum听dried fruit contains the听听听,听听and听听and the听听听, quercetin and听.听Another analysis found genistein and genistein glycosides including听,听,听,听, and kaempferol and the kaempferol听听听and听.听The fruit also contain the alkaloids听,听,听,听听and听.
