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Northwest Missouri State University


Kentucky Coffeetree

Gymnocladus dioicus

Native. Leaves are alternate, bipinnately compound, and 36 inches long with six to 14 leaflets. Height to 90 feet. It is one of the last trees to leaf out in the spring. Leathery pods 5 to 10 inches long form on female trees and make it identifiable in the winter. It is somewhat messy with falling leaflets and pods. Seeds are poisonous when raw but it is believed the pioneers roasted them to substitute for coffee, hence the common name.

GIS coordinate: N40 21.228 W94 52.989

Trail Number: T10

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Leaf - Kentucky Coffeetree

Summer - Kentucky Coffeetree