The [BARK] of the trunk is divided into long narrow plates, the bright red-brown surface separating into thin [scales].
The LEAVES are [alternate], heart-shaped, entire, 3 to 5 inches long and wide, glossy green, turning a bright clear yellow in autumn.
The conspicuous, bright purplish-red FLOWERS are in clusters along the twigs and small branches, and appear before or with the leaves in early spring.
The [FRUIT] is an [oblong], flattened, many-seeded [pod], 2 to 4 inches long, reddish during the summer and often hanging on the tree through the following summer.
The WOOD is heavy, hard, not strong, rich dark brown in color, and of little commercial importance. The redbud is cultivated as an ornamental tree and for that purpose might be more generally planted in this state.
Several varieties of Cercis canadensis have been described in Texas.
HONEYLOCUST
Gleditsia triacanthos L.
Honeylocust occurs naturally in the eastern part of the state to the Brazos River. It grows under a wide variety of soil and moisture conditions and is a popular tree for planting in the drier portions of Texas. It reaches a diameter of 30 inches and a height of 75 feet. The [BARK] on old trees is dark gray and is divided into thin, tight [scales]. The strong, straight or branched, brown, sharp and shiny thorns, which grow on the 1-year-old wood and remain for many years, are sufficient to identify the honeylocust.
The LEAF is [pinnate] or feather-like, with 18 to 28 [leaflets]; or it is bi-pinnate, consisting of 4 to 7 pairs of pinnae, each 6 to 8 inches long.
