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Robinia pseudoacacia L.

Black locust

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderFabalesLegumes (pea and bean families)
FamilyFabaceaeLegume family (peas and beans)
GenusRobiniaParisians Jean and Vespasian Robin, gardeners to Henri IV and Louis XIII, first to cultivate locust trees
Speciespseudoacacia“Looks like Acacia

About plant names...

Black locust is native to the southeastern United States. It has been planted and become naturalized in temperate parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America. In some areas it has become common to invasive. They spread by seed or by producing extensive suckers, creating large clonal colonies, and require plenty of sun. There are many cultivars.

Plants: These deciduous trees reach 40-100′ (12-30 m), with trunks up to 2-4′ (60-121 cm) in diameter. Bark is light brown or dark gray brown, ridged and furrowed, with bits of red or orange visible in grooves. Young trees are spiny, but mature trees often lack spines. Branches are zigzagged, rounded or grooved, changing from silvery to pale green, then to reddish or brown.

Leaves: Leaves are alternate, odd pinnate, 6-14″ (15-35 cm) long, divided into 7 to 23 small leaflets. Leaflets are elliptic, and dark blue-green, lighter beneath. Dark purple prickers develop from stipules at leaf bases, ¼-¾″ (6.3-20 mm) long, each with a flared base and sharp tip.

Flowers: Large, beautiful hanging racemes of scented flowers, 4-8″ (10-20 cm) long. The flower clusters resemble wisteria. Flowers are creamy white, or rarely pink or purple, each about 1″ (2.5 cm) in size. The calyx at the base of each flower is reddish-purple. They appear in May-June and last for only 7 to 10 days.

Fruits: Flat, smooth, dark orange-brown pea-like pods 2-4″ (5-10 cm) long, with 4-8 kidney-shaped seeds. They persist all winter.

Edibility: Poisonous Skull & Crossbones Bark, young leaves, and seeds are poisonous if eaten. Poisoning symptoms include depres­sion, weakness, dilated pupils, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, weak pulse, coldness of arms and legs, paleness, and shock. Flowers, however, are edible. After soaking in warm water for several minutes to remove dirt, flowers can be battered and deep fried, or chopped and added to muffin or pancake batter.

Online References:

Wikipedia

Powo.science.kew.org

The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

The Missouri Botanical Garden

Plants.ces.ncsu.edu

Wric.ucdavis.edu

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

6/7/2017 · Burns Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Burns/Holland Farm, Milford, New Hamp­shire

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

6/7/2017 · Burns Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Burns/Holland Farm, Milford, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 16 cm)

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

5/31/2010 · Mt. Lebanon St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

8/6/2013 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

5/31/2010 · Mt. Lebanon St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm) ID is uncertain

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

9/5/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

8/6/2013 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

6/7/2017 · Burns Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Burns/Holland Farm, Milford, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 16 cm)

Robinia pseudoacacia L. f. inermis (Mirb.) Rehder

Robinia pseudoacacia L. var. pyramidalis Pepin

Robinia pseudoacacia L. var. rectissima (L.) Raber

 

Robinia pseudoacacia description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 6 Sep 2021.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

6/5/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts ID is uncertain

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

9/3/2021 · Topsham Recreational Path along the Androscoggin River, Topsham, Maine

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

9/5/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts ID is uncertain

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

5/4/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

8/6/2013 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

6/1/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm) ID is uncertain

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

5/4/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm)

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

6/7/2017 · Burns Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Burns/Holland Farm, Milford, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

6/5/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts ID is uncertain

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

6/7/2017 · Burns Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Burns/Holland Farm, Milford, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

6/1/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm) ID is uncertain

Range: Zones 3-8:

About this map...