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Identification Clues:
Locusts have pinnately compound leaves.
On this large tree, notice the large irregular plates of the bark on the
trunk. Male flowers and female flowers occur on separate individuals.
Female trees are easily identified by the long, dark, flatly twisted seed
pods. These fruits are absent from the male trees. Honey locusts
are armed with formidable, often branched, stout spines that can be several
inches long. Cultivated varieties may lack spines.
Distribution:
Honey locusts were originally restricted to
the Mississippi Valley but have become common in the east. Pioneers
planted it often and in some ares it has escaped naturally and is considered
a "weed tree".
Highlights:
The species derives its name from the fluid
exuded by the pods. Pioneers found many uses for locusts. Thorns
were handy as pins and weapons for animal traps. The durability of
the wood allowed it to be used for railroad ties and fence posts.
The fruits provide food for cattle and wildlife such as deer, bobwhite,
rabbits and squirrels. Surprisingly, honey locusts lack the nitrogen-fixing
bacteria that are common in root nodules of most legumes. |
