Twigs: Angled, somewhat zigzag, brittle, with short stout prickles; no end bud, side buds small and hidden in winter.
Fruit: A thin, flat pod, 2″-4″ long; usually with 4-8 seeds; splits into halves when ripe. Flowers white, showy, very fragrant in drooping clusters, appearing in May and June.
General: Bark rough, furrowed, thick. A medium-sized tree. Often seen along farm fences and roads. Wood is durable in contact with the soil and in demand for posts, poles, railroad ties, and mine timbers. Unfortunately, several insects and wood rots often cause heavy damage, especially to trees on poor soils.
COMMON HONEYLOCUST
(Gleditsia triacanthos)
Leaves: Compound and doubly-compound, alternate; leaf-stem grooved above, hairy; [leaflets] 1″ long, usually fine-toothed on margins.
Twigs: Medium stout, shiny, greenish brown to reddish brown, zigzag, smooth, often with long branched thorns; no end bud, very small side buds.
Fruit: A leathery pod, 10″-18″ long, flat, usually twisted, with numerous seeds; often of high sugar content; eaten by some animals. Does not split into 2 halves, as does the pod of [black locust].
General: Bark on young trees greenish brown with many long, raised, horizontal lines ([lenticels]); later brown to nearly black, fissured and with thick plates. A medium-sized tree; usually found as a native near streams; also planted as a shade tree. Branched thorns on the trunk and limbs make it easy to identify in winter. There is a thornless variety. Wood is mainly used for fence posts, general construction, and furniture.
