Honey locust
Gleditsia triacanthos L.
Fabaceae (Legume family)
Description
Honey locust is a medium-sized to large tree that can reach 100 feet tall. It is a member of the Legume family and can grow in dense, impenetrable thickets.
On older trees, the bark is grayish brown to black, with clusters of thorns and deep cracks that separate into scaly ridges. The trunk and branches of honey locust are densely thorny. The thorns can sometimes be as long as 12 inches and are three pronged.
The leaves are deciduous and located alternately on the stems. They occur in a typical legume fashion, being twice pinnate. Showy flowers appear in May and June, and large bean pods up to 1› feet long ripen in September and October.
The plant is considered poor forage for livestock and fair for wildlife.
Habitat
Honey locust grows in moist, fertile soils across the eastern and central parts of Texas.
Images
Plant Characteristics
Flower Color: Yellow
Seed Type: Bean/Pod
Duration: Perennial
Stem Texture: Prickly, Spiny, or Thorny
Growth Habit: Shrub (Woody)
Leaf Shape
: Bipinnately Compound
Season: Warm
Distribution
: 01 - Pineywoods, 02 - Gulf Prairies and Marshes, 03 - Post Oak Savannah, 04 - Blackland Prairies, 05 - Cross Timbers and Prairies, 06 - South Texas Plains, 07 - Edwards Plateau
Distributions
Distribution refers to the ecological region in Texas that a plant has been found. You can also view a clickable map.
Book: Brush and Weeds of Texas Rangelands (B-6208)
Collection: Brush and Weeds
