117601 Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos (Fabaceae) HEIGHT to 45m
Tall deciduous tree with a high, domed crown; bole, branches and twigs are spiny. BARK Greyish purple. BRANCHES Mainly level, with curled twigs. LEAVES Alternate, either pinnate, with up to 18 pairs of 2–3cm-long leaflets, or bipinnate, with up to 14 leaflets no more than 2cm long. Leaf axes end in spines. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Tiny flowers open in June, are no more than 3mm long, may be male, female or both, and grow in compact clusters in leaf axils; greenish-white oval petals number from 3 to 5. Flattened pods with thickened edges, to 45cm long, are twisted or curved and become dark brown when ripe. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Mississippi basin of N America, planted here for ornament.
