Honey Locust

Gleditsia triacanthos

FAMILY NAME Fabaceae

CHARACTERISTICS Glossy, green compound leaves with paired leaflets, 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in) long, turning a brilliant yellow in autumn

HABITAT Adaptable to many conditions, gardens and urban areas

DISTRIBUTION North America

FLOWERS AND FRUIT Small, greenish-yellow flowers followed by clusters of long, strap-like seed pods

Often known as the Honey Locust because of the sticky pulp that comes from its pods, this tree is also sometimes called the Thorny Locust because of the prickly spines that grow on the trunk and base of its branches. Most cultivated varieties do not have thorns and are planted as ornamental specimens. The sticky, sweet pulp in its pods has a sugary taste and was used traditionally by Native Americans as a sweetener in foods and medicines. Today, it’s widely used in anti-cancer medicines and to treat rheumatoid arthritis.