Laburnum anagyroides
Specifications
Family
Fabaceae
Species
Laburnum anagyroides Medik.
golden chain tree
golden rain tree
Description
The wood is clearly differentiated with yellowish sapwood and olive-brown or bronze heartwood, with a medium coarse texture and straight grain, volumetric weight at normal humidity from 0.60 to 0.86 with an average around 0.80.
Plant morphology
A shrubby species that rarely grows into a tree, growing 3-8 m tall with a stem diameter of up to 20 cm. The leaves are compound, with three elliptical leaflets with an acute apex. The flowers are borne in pendulous racemes, very showy for their size and bright golden-yellow color. The fruits are elongated legumes containing small seeds similar to brown peas.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Native to central and southern Europe, in Italy it is more widespread in the North where it climbs up to around 800-1000 m.
Habitat and ecology
A moderately heliophilous species, it prefers sunny locations and calcareous soils, although it also tolerates acidic, sandy, deep, and moist soils. In its natural state, it forms part of broadleaf forests, intercropping with chestnut, hornbeam, oak, and beech. Its extensive root system makes it suitable for strengthening slopes and gravelly banks.
Uses
Application areas
Despite its hardness, it is easily worked, making it a popular choice for small objects, cabinetmaking, and lathe work. The wood can be stored for a long time in contact with the ground, making it also used for poles and as fuel, due to its high calorific value.
Miscellaneous
The synonym "false ebony" derives from the fact that the wood oxidizes easily, turning black. This valuable natural property was exploited, especially in the past, by furniture makers as a substitute for the rarer and more expensive real ebony. Popular tradition attributes the tree's meaning to the "wicked tree," not only because of its toxicity, but also because its highly flexible branches could be used to make powerful bows. The seeds contain a bitter-tasting alkaloid, cytisine, which is poisonous to humans but not to animals, and has some medicinal uses.