Gymnócladus Canadénsis, Lam. (Kentucky Coffee-tree.) Leaves 2 to 3 ft. long, often with the lower pinnæ simple and the upper pinnate. Leaflets ovate, of a dull bluish-green color. Shoots cane-like, blunt and stubby, quite erect. Bark exceedingly rough. Pod large, 6 to 10 in. long, 2 in. broad, with seeds over ½ in. across. A large (50 to 80 ft. high) tree with compact, tough, reddish wood. Wild from western New York southwestward, and occasionally cultivated as an ornamental tree.
Genus 34. GLEDÍTSCHIA.
Usually thorny trees with alternate, once to twice abruptly pinnate leaves. Flowers inconspicuous, greenish, in small spikes. Summer. Fruit a small or large pea-like pod, with one to many seeds; ripe in autumn, but often hanging on the trees through the winter.
G. triacánthos.
1. Gledítschia triacánthos, L. (Honey-locust.) Leaflets lanceolate-oblong, somewhat serrate. Pods linear, 1 to 1½ ft. long, often twisted, filled with sweet pulp between the seeds. A large, handsome, clean tree, with usually many stout, much-branched thorns, especially abundant on bruised portions of the trunk and large branches; thorns compressed at base. Wild from Pennsylvania southward and westward, and extensively cultivated throughout.
A variety without thorns is frequently met with (var. inermis), also one with drooping foliage (var. Bujotii pendula).
G. aquática.
2. Gledítschia aquática, Marsh. (Water-locust.) Leaflets ovate or oblong. Pods oval, 1 to 4 in. long, 1- to few-seeded, without pulp. A small tree with few slender, usually simple thorns; in swamps in southern Illinois and south. Occasionally planted for ornament. This species is quite similar to the preceding one, but the leaves are somewhat smaller, the thorns, though occasionally branching, do not branch so extensively, and the pod is very short and rounded.