Fabaceae

Robinia pseudoacacia

Common Names: Black locust

Plant Form: Deciduous tree. Size: Usually 10m tall, but up to 17m. Stem: Reddish grey with spines or thorns on stems and branches. Trunk woody and becoming deeply fissured with age. Leaves: 8-15 cm long in 5-10 pairs of oval to egg shaped leaflets. Flowers: Hanging groups of white, pink or purplish pea shaped flowers with green or yellow markings in centre. Fruit and Seeds: Brown, woody, hanging flattened pods 3-8 cm long without hairs. Containing 4-10 blackish seeds 5 mm long. Habitat: River flats, grassland, woodland, abandoned gardens, roadsides. Distinguishing Features: Similar to Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), but with different flowers, more leaflets, and paired spines. Impacts: Reducing land capacity, all parts toxic to stock and humans, replaces native vegetation.