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Fam:   Leguminose Juss. (Fabaceae)
Genus:   Cercis L.
Species: Ceris siliqustrum L.
English Name: Judas tree or Judas-tree

Description:

Perennial trees to subshrubs. Wood to 8.0 (15.0) meters high or less shrub 3.0 - 4.0 meters, bark smooth, brown, black. Leaves simple, on stems (1.3) 2.0 - 3.0 (5.0 - 6.0) cm long, semicircular (20.0) 60.0 - 90.0 (115.0) mm long and (20.0) 70.0 - 120.0 (140.0) mm wide, at the base deeply heart-shaped, blunt tip or cut, entire, naked. Stipule small, ovoid, drop off. Flowers in bundles, by (3) 6 - 8 in the axils of the leaves, located along the stem and also on older than three years spurs (kauliflory). Flower stems (7.0) 10.0 - 15.0 (30.0) mm long, basically short fiber, up naked. Calyx (3.0) 5.0  -  6.0 (7.0) mm long and (3.0) 5.0 - 10.0 mm wide, bell-shaped, naked; the teeth 5, which are identical, triangular ovate inside the edge ciliates, shorter than the tube. Corolla up to 2.0 cm long, pale pink, pink, pink to purple, incorrectly, from 5 notes, reverse ovate, the basis narrowed to claw naked, lower up  to 15.0 mm long and 10.0 mm wide, the above three to 10.0 mm long and 5.0 to 6.0 mm wide. Stamens 10, free. Beans oblong, 6.0 - 10.0 (15.0) cm long and (13.0) 15.0 - 20.0 mm wide, brown, naked, with 8 - 10 seeds, not Pinch, belly seam with wing to 2.0 mm wide. The seeds back ovoid or elliptical, brown, smooth, 5.0 - 6.0 mm long.

Economic importance. Decorative, honey.

Note. The locations in the country in which C. siliquastrum is spontaneous element is difficult to pinpoint because of his long cultivation in many places (not available with data exactly when did dating his culture in our land). It is possible that this happened in ancient times, which is why the species is wild in many places and became an element of altered natural vegetation (like Ficus carica).
In my opinion habitats in Shumen, Varna and Preslav as spontaneous. Remains unclear origin population near Pomorie, as localities is particularly near to the city, as in Stara Zagora and Plovdiv therefore be considered to cultural origin. In the immediate neighborhood of the old monuments species is found everywhere, including near Preslav, therefore it can be assumed cultural origin.

From: „Флора на НР България”, том VI, БАН, София, (1976)

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Cercis siliquastrum, commonly known as the Judas tree or Judas-tree,[1] is a small deciduous tree from Southern Europe and Western Asia which is noted for its prolific display of deep pink flowers in spring.

Description

This species forms a small tree up to 12 metres in height and 10 metres in width.[2]
The deep pink flowers are produced on year-old or older growth, including the trunk, in late spring. Also, the flowers display a blossom with five free petals and fused sepals. This shape is specific to the Fabaceae. The leaves appear shortly after the first flowers emerge. These are cordate with a blunt apex, which occasionally has a shallow notch at the tip. The tree produces long flat pods that hang vertically. The flowers are edible and purportedly have a sweet-acid taste.[2]

Taxonomy

A botanical illustration from 1891
The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1753 and he gave it the specific epithet of siliquastrum which is derived from the Latin word siliqua, meaning "pod".[3] The generic name comes from the Greek kerkis, a "shuttle", which refers to the resemblance shown to this weaver's tool by the flat, woody seedpods.[4]
There are several varieties and subspecies and these include:

Distribution and ecological aspects

The flowers are pollinated by bees, attracted by nectar. Pollen from the protuding stamens is deposited on the bee's body and carried to another flower's stigma.[5]
In Israel the tree has a status of a protected plant.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Flowering Time: Blooms: IV - V (rarely XI), fruitful: VI - VII.

References: „Флора на НР България”, том VI, БАН, София, (1976), Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Distribution in Bulgaria: Grow in fhe forests and bushes, mostly limestone, with Carpinus orientalis, Quercus cerris, Acer campestre, Fraxinus ornus, Tilia argentea, in the plains and foothills. Black Sea Coast (Pomorie), Northeast Bulgaria (Shumen region) East Stara Planina (Preslav with. Dervent, Varna) until about 500 meters altitude. In many places in Southern Bulgaria cultivated as decorative and somewhere savage (Stara Zagora, Aitos region, Plovdiv). (Conspectus of the Bulgarian Vascular Flora) = conspectus&gs_l= Zlc.

Distribution: Mediterranean; Southwest Asia (Mala Asia).

Conservation status and threats: not protected species in Bulgaria by the Biodiversity Law. - Biological Diversity Act -    http://eea.government.bg/bg/legislation/biodiversity/zbran_22.08.15.pdf

Medical plant: it is not. - Medicinal Plants Act - http://eea.government.bg/bg/legislation/biodiversity/ZLR_en.pdf

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