Gleditsia triacanthos (Honey Locust)

Gleditsia triacanthos

Gleditsia triacanthos L.

Gleditsia triacanthos L. var. inermis (L.) C.K. Schneid.

Honey Locust

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Fabales	Legumes (pea and bean families)
Family	Fabaceae	Legume family (peas and beans)
Genus	Gleditsia	Named for German botanist Johann Gottlieb Gleditsch (1714-1786)
Species	triacanthos	Three-spined

About plant names...

Honey locusts are fast-growing trees that live up to 120 years. The term “honey” may refer to the pulp in the fruit pods, which is sweet.

Identification: Honey locusts reach 66-98' (20-30 m) in height. The trunk and branches can have evil-looking red thorns, up to 3" (7.6 cm) long. (Thornless cultivars have been developed though.) Leaves on younger trees are bipinnate; on older trees, they are pinnate. Individual leaflets in the leaf groups are ⅜-⅞" (1-2.5 cm) long. In the fall, leaves become golden yellow. Flowers are small, greenish yellow, in hanging clusters 2-3" (5-7.6 cm) long. The fruit pods, resembling pea pods, are a very conspicuous feature—up to 8" (20 cm) long, twisted and contorted, turning from yellow brown to orange to dark red brown.

Honey locust spines, by Luis Fernández García. Barrio del Pilar, Madrid, Spain, 6/5/2005.

Online References:

Gleditsia triacanthos on www.carolinanature.com

Gleditsia triacanthos on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Gleditsia triacanthos at the Ohio.gov Department of Natural Resources

Gleditsia triacanthos at the Ohio State University PLANTFacts database

References:

Sibley, David Allen, The Sibley Guide to Trees, Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, p. 122

9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, MA ID is uncertain

This young tree is about 3 feet high. · 6/26/2015 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, MA
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 15 cm)

Gleditsia triacanthos description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

9/1/2013 · Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA
≈ 17 × 11" (42 × 28 cm)

5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Exploration Center, Kent Island, MD
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain

5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Exploration Center, Kent Island, MD
≈ 6 × 9" (15 × 23 cm) ID is uncertain

9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, MA ID is uncertain

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, MA ID is uncertain

5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Exploration Center, Kent Island, MD
≈ 6 × 9" (15 × 23 cm) ID is uncertain

9/1/2013 · Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, MA
≈ 21 × 31" (52 × 78 cm) ID is uncertain

5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Exploration Center, Kent Island, MD
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain

This young tree is about 3 feet high. · 6/26/2015 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, MA
≈ 8 × 6" (20 × 14 cm)

9/1/2013 · Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA
≈ 13 × 9" (34 × 22 cm)

This young tree is about 3 feet high. · 6/26/2015 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, MA
≈ 7 × 4½" (16 × 11 cm)

9/1/2013 · Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA
≈ 14 × 10" (36 × 24 cm)

This young tree is about 3 feet high. · 6/26/2015 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, MA
≈ 8 × 6" (20 × 14 cm)

9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, MA ID is uncertain

Range: Zones 3-9:

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