Cercis siliquastrum: Information from Answers.com

For other uses, see Judas Tree.

Judas Tree

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Caesalpinioideae
Genus:	Cercis
Species:	C. siliquastrum
Binomial name
*Cercis siliquastrum* L.

Cercis siliquastrum, commonly known as Judas Tree, is a small deciduous tree from Southern Europe and Western Asia which is noted for its prolific display of deep-pink flowers in spring.

1 Description
2 Taxonomy
- 2.1 Synonyms
3 Distribution and ecological aspects
4 Cultivation
5 History
6 References

Description

Flowers sprouting from old growth.

This species forms a small tree up to 12 metres in height and 10 metres in width. The deep pink flowers are produced on year-old or older growth, including the trunk in late spring (cauliflory). The leaves appear shortly after the first flowers emerge. These are heart-shaped with a blunt apex, which occasionally has a shallow notch at the tip. The tree produces long flat pods that hang vertically.

Taxonomy

A botanical illustration from 1891.

The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1753, who gave it the specific epithet of siliquastrum which is derived from the Latin word siliqua, meaning "pod".

Varieties and subspecies include:

var. hebecarpa Bornm.
nothosubsp. yaltikirii (Ponert) Govaerts
var. siliquastrum

Synonyms

Synonyms include:

Cercis siliquastrum var. alba Weston
Siliquastrum orbicularis Moench

Distribution and ecological aspects

Flowers and pods

The cultivar 'Alba'

Psyllids (Cacopsylla pulchella) on a Judas Tree leaf.

The species is native to Western Asia, including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and Southern Europe including Albania, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy , Turkey and Yugoslavia

The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by bees.

Cultivation

Judas Tree prefers deep, fertile, well-drained soils and a position in full sun or partial shade. It is drought tolerant.

Cultivars include:

'Alba' - white flowers
'Bodnant' - dark pink-purple flowers
'Rubra' - dark pink-purple flowers

The tree is susceptible to leafhoppers, scale insects and psyllids (specifically Cacopsylla pulchella) as well as diseases including canker, coral spot and verticillium wilt.

Propagation is by seed, cuttings or budding.

The species produces hard wood with an attractive grain. It is used in veneers and polishes well.

History

There is a longstanding myth that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from a tree of this species. This belief is related to the common name "Judas Tree" which is possibly a corrupted derivation from the French common name, Arbre de Judée meaning tree of Judea, referring to a region where the tree occurs.