What is "gymnocladus"

Gymnocladus \Gym*noc"la*dus\ (j[i^]m*n[o^]"l[.a]*d[u^]s), n. [NL., fr. Gr. gymno`s naked + kla`dos a branch.] (Bot.) A genus of leguminous plants; the Kentucky coffee tree. The leaves are cathartic, and the seeds a substitute for coffee.

Gymnocladus ( Neo-Latin, from Greek γυμνὀς, gymnos, naked + κλάδος, klados, branch) is a small genus of leguminous trees. The common name coffeetree is used for this genus.

There are three species:

• Gymnocladus burmanicus
• Gymnocladus chinensis - soap tree
• Gymnocladus dioicus - Kentucky coffeetree