Honey locust
Honey locust trunk
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae Genus: Gleditsia Species: G. triacanthos
Binomial name
Gleditsia triacanthos L.

The Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It is mostly found in the moist soil of river valleys ranging from southeastern South Dakota to New Orleans and central Texas, and as far east as central Pennsylvania. Photo taken by me. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Plant (disambiguation). ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants or angiosperms are the most widespread group of land plants. ... Magnoliopsida is the botanical name for a class of flowering plants. ... Families Fabaceae (legumes) Quillajaceae Polygalaceae (milkwort family) Surianaceae The Fabales are an order of flowering plants, included in the rosid group of dicotyledons. ... Subfamilies Faboideae Caesalpinioideae Mimosoideae References GRIN-CA 2002-09-01 The name Fabaceae belongs to either of two families, depending on viewpoint. ... Tribes Cassieae Caesalpinieae Cercideae Detarieae Caesalpinioideae is a botanical name at the rank of subfamily, placed in the large family Fabaceae or Leguminosae. ... Species See text Gleditsia is a genus of locust trees in the family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae, native to North America and Asia. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 13, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Deciduous forest after leaf fall Like many deciduous plants, Forsythia flowers during the leafless season For other uses, see Deciduous (disambiguation). ... The coniferous Coast Redwood, the tallest tree species on earth. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Official language(s) English Capital Pierre Largest city Sioux Falls Area  Ranked 17th  - Total 77,116[1] sq mi (199,905 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 380 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Largest metro area Delaware Valley Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ...

[edit] Description

It can reach a height of 20–30 meters (66–100 feet), with fast growth. They are relatively short-lived, however, living about 120 years. They are also prone to losing large branches in windstorms. The leaves are pinnately compound on older trees but bipinnately compound on vigorous young trees. The leaflets are 1.5–2.5 cm long (smaller on bipinnate leaves) and bright green. They turn yellow in the fall. The strongly scented cream-colored flowers appear in late spring, in clusters emerging from the base of the leaf axils. Look up foliage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up Pinnate in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Flower (disambiguation). ...

The fruit is a flat legume (pod) that matures between September and October. The pods are generally between 15–20 cm long. The pulp on the insides of the pods is edible and sweet; it should not be confused with Black locust, which is toxic. The seeds are dispersed by grazing herbivores (e.g. cattle and horses), which eat the pod pulp and then excrete the seeds in their droppings; the animal's digestive system assists in breaking down the hard seed coat, making germination easier. For other uses, see Fruit (disambiguation). ... This article is about the fruit of the plants also called legumes. For the plants themselves, see Fabaceae . ... This article is about the fruit of the plants also called legumes. For the plants themselves, see Fabaceae . ... Binomial name Robinia pseudoacacia L. Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is a tree in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae. ... A deer and two fawns feeding on some foliage A herbivore is often defined as any organism that eats only plants[1]. By that definition, many fungi, some bacteria, many animals, about 1% of flowering plants and some protists can be considered herbivores. ... For general information about the genus, including other species of cattle, see Bos. ... Binomial name Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758 The horse (Equus caballus, sometimes seen as a subspecies of the Wild Horse, Equus ferus caballus) is a large odd-toed ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus. ...

Honey locusts commonly have thorns 10–20 cm long growing out of the branches; these may be single, or branched into several points, and commonly form into dense clusters. These thorns are fairly soft and green when young, harden and turn red as they age, and then fade to ash grey and turn brittle when they stop growing. It has been suggested that these thorns evolved to protect the trees from now-extinct, browsing Pleistocene megafauna (which may also have been involved in seed dispersal).^[1] Thornless forms (f. inermis) are occasionally found growing wild. Thorn, a sharp structure or growth on plants. ... It has been suggested that New World Pleistocene extinctions be merged into this article or section. ...

some hobos happen to live in this tree.

[edit] Uses

Despite its name, Honey locust is not a significant honey plant. The name derives instead from the sweet taste of the legume pulp, which was used for food by Native American people, and can also be fermented to make beer. For other uses, see Honey (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Beer (disambiguation). ...

A Native American legend is that the Thunder Spirit recognized his son by his ability to sit comfortably on locust branches, despite the thorns. Chief Quanah Parker of the Quahadi Comanche Native Americans in the United States (also Indians, American Indians, First Americans, Indigenous Peoples, Aboriginal Peoples, Aboriginal Americans, Amerindians, Amerinds, or Original Americans) are those indigenous peoples within the territory which is now encompassed by the continental United States, and their descendants in...

Its cultivars are popular ornamental plants, especially in the northern plains of North America where few other trees can survive and prosper. It tolerates urban conditions, compacted soil, road salt, alkaline soil, heat and drought. The popularity is in part due to the fact that it transplants so easily. The fast growth rate and tolerance of poor site conditions make it valued in areas where shade is wanted quickly, such as new parks or housing developments, and in disturbed and reclaimed environments, such as mine tailings. It is resistant to Gypsy moths but is defoliated by another pest, the Mimosa webworm. Spider mites, cankers, and galls are a problem with some trees. This Osteospermum Pink Whirls is a successful cultivar. ... Petunia This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Binomial name Lymantria dispar Linnaeus, 1758 The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, is a moth in the family Lymantriidae of Eurasian origin. ... Binomial name Tetranychus urticae C.L. Koch, 1836 The Red Spider Mite is a predatory mite found in dry environments, generally considered a pest. ... Note:This article is about Canker in plants. ... Kalanchoë infected with crown-gall using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. ...

It has also been introduced to Europe and elsewhere as an ornamental tree; it has become naturalized in parts of southern Europe, and also in Australia where it is considered an invasive species and called McConnel's curse (though it is still recommended by some nurseries [1]). For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Naturalization is the process whereby a person becomes a national of a nation, or a citizen of a country, other than the one of his birth. ... Lantana invasion of abandoned citrus plantation; Moshav Sdey Hemed, Israel The term invasive species refers to a subset of introduced species or non-indigenous species that are rapidly expanding outside of their native range. ...

Honey locust produces a high quality, durable wood that polishes well, but the tree does not grow in sufficient numbers to support a bulk industry. Its also used for posts and rails since it works with soil so well. However a niche market exists for honey locust furniture. In the past, the hard thorns of the younger trees have been used as nails. A pile of nails. ...

Graze animals such as goats and horses and particularly fond of the taste of honey locust leaves, and apparently the leaves are good for them as well.

[edit] References

1. ^ Connie Barlow. Anachronistic Fruits and the Ghosts Who Haunt Them. Arnoldia, vol. 61, no. 2 (2001)

• Sternberg, Guy, (2004) Native Trees for North American Landscapes pp. 264. Timber Press,

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Honey locust

• Gleditsia triacanthos images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu

Honey Locust thorns Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Photo taken by me. ...

Honey Locust foliage Locust tree foliage From http://www. ...

Immature seed pods Small, touched up version of erroneously named media:black locust pods. ...

Mature seed pod Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixels Full resolution (768 × 1024 pixel, file size: 335 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Seed pod of Gleditsia triacanthos - legumier (Honey locust tree). ...