HONEYLOCUST

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) is not native in Maine, but has been frequently planted in urban areas in the southern and central portions of the state. It has escaped in the town of Paris. It has somewhat pendulous, slender spreading branches that form an open, broad, flattopped head. Simple or usually 3 forked spines, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long or longer, occur on the branches and trunk. A thornless form is preferred in plantings. It attains a height of 75 feet and a diameter of 20 inches

The bark is divided into long, narrow ridges by deep fissures and the surface is broken into small scales that are persistent.

The leaves are alternate, both once and twice compound, 4-8 inches long and have frmn 18-28 leaflets. The margins of the leaflets are finely blunt-toothed.

The flowers are borne in slender clusters from 2 to 2 1/2 inches long. They appear in June when the leaves are about fully grown. Staminate and pistiliate flowers are produced separately on the same tree.

The fruit is a shiny, reddish brown, flattened pod 12-18 inches long. The walls are thin and tough.

The twigs are smooth and distinctly zigzag in shape. Winter buds barely protrude from the leaf scar.

The wood is coarse-grained, hard, strong, and very durable in contact with the soil. It Is used for fence posts in Maine.