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Rare Plants of Ontario
Family: Fagaceae/Legume
COSEWIC: Threatened
MNRF: Threatened
Provincial rank: S2
Oldham (2017): Rare

EARTHQUEST Regional rank: R2 (Ecoregion 7E)

Local rank (watersheds):
Essex Region watershed (L2)
Lower Thames Valley (Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority) (L1)
St. Clair Region watershed (L2)

Kentucky Coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioicus)

Flowering period:

A relatively small window of time; June 11 - 21. The source of this data is the EARTHQUEST Plants of Ontario database (2015b).

5 Second Rule Identification:

Mid-sized to tall tree (18 - 30 m) (Environment Canada 2014) with bipinnately compound leaved (the only tree in Ontario with this leaf shape), flat-topped ridges on the bark and a pink pith.

Biology and Ecology:

Four Ontario populations of Kentucky Coffee-tree in Ontario contain both male and female trees and produce seeds (Craig cited in Environment Canada 2014). Reproduction at all other populations is limited to vegetative (i.e., clonal) reproduction through ramets (Environment Canada 2014). Insect pollinators include moths at night and Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) during the daylight hours (Ambrose cited in Environment Canada 2014).

Population Size:

Approximately 33 populations documented, with only 23 remaining by 2010 (Environment Canada 2014). Eight hundred and ninety nine records were found in the NHIC database. Forty four records exist in the EARTHQUEST Plants of Ontario database.

Habitat & Soils:

Edges of woodlands, floodplains, edges of marshes, and shallow soil over limestone (Jolly 2015a).

Threats:

Kentucky Coffee-tree populations in Ontario are largely threatened by land development, Double-crested Cormorant nesting colonies (e.g., Middle Island), cuting and removal, alteration to water regime, alteration of the fire regime, planting of non-native Kentucky Coffee-trees, and terrestrial invasive plants (Environment Canada 2014).

Recovery:

A COSEWIC recovery strategy was prepared in 2014 by Environment Canada. Please refer to "Recovery Stategy for the Kentucky Coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) in Ontario".

Biometrics:

A relatively fast growing tree - 8 year old tree measured 3.92 m. This same tree flowered in it's 5th year.

Environmental Protection:

This species is protected as a Schedule 1 tree under the federal Species at Risk Act. Designated Threatened in April 1983. Status re-examined and confirmed in November 2000.

Confusing look-a-likes:

No other canopy trees resemble this species in Ontario. The leaves are considered the largest of trees in North America.

Plant Associates:

Ground layer plants include; Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), Common Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium fontanum, Spring Draba (Draba verna), Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis), and Bitter Wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris).

References:

1. Environment Canada. 2014. Recovery Strategy for the Kentucky Coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. vi + 36 pp
2. Jolly, D.W. 2015a (revised). A Photo Field Guide to Ontario Species at Risk trees, shrubs and wildflowers - volume 1. EARTHQUEST (Canada) for the Environment. 193 p.
3. Jolly, D.W. 2015b. Unpublished Kentucky Coffee-tree data extracted from the Plants of Ontario database. Website: EARTHQUEST (Canada) [accessed January 21, 2017].
4. Natural Heritage Information Centre. 2016. Unpublished Kentucky Coffee-tree data extracted. Website: NHIC [accessed February 9, 2016].
5. Oldham, Michael J. 2017. List of the Vascular Plants of Ontario’s Carolinian Zone (Ecoregion 7E). Carolinian Canada and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Peterborough, ON. 132 pp.

Distribution:

To date, current, historical and extirpated populations have been found in 3 counties, or tier regional municipalities; Chatham-Kent, Essex and Lambton. The extant Niagara region population was reported in 2003 (NHIC 2016)

Spring
Sapling
Photo: Dave Jolly
Summer
Photo: Dave Jolly	Leaf Photo: Dave Jolly	Buds Photo: Dave Jolly	Flowers Photo: Dave Jolly
Fall
Seed pods Photo: Dave Jolly
Winter
Photo: Dave Jolly	Bark Photo: Dave Jolly	Leaf scar Photo: Dave Jolly