Laburnum

Laburnum anagyroides

Height to 12m; bole up to 1.4m diameter. Deciduous. Branches ascending and arching. Bark smooth, dark green at first,then brown. Leaves are alternate; each leaf consists of three leaflets, 3-8cm rounded at the end but usually with sharply pointed tip. Grey-green on upper surface, silky white hairs, below. This tree is poisonous.

What habitats does it normally live in?

Southern and central Europe. Popular small ornamental tree. Hybridizes with scottish laburnum., L.albinum. Scrub and woodland. The heartwood, which is very hard has been used as a substitute for ebony.

What are its young like?

Yellow flowers are pea-like and poisonous, produced in May and June, hanging in long chains 10-30cm Pods, containing black seed, hang on tree in winter, 4-6cm.

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