Family: Fabaceae, Pea view all from this family

Description Large, spiny tree with open, flattened crown of spreading branches.
Height: 80' (24 m).
Diameter: 2 1/2" (0.8 m).
Leaves: pinnately and bipinnately compound; 4-8" (10-20 cm) long; the axis often with 3-6 pairs of side axes or forks; in late spring. Many oblong leaflets 3/8-1 1/4" (1-3 cm) long; paired and stalkless; with finely wavy edges. Shiny dark green above, dull yellow-green and nearly hairless beneath; turning yellow in autumn.
Bark: gray-brown or black; fissured in long narrow scaly ridges; with stout brown spines, usually branched, sometimes 8" (20 cm) long, with 3 to many points.
Twigs: shiny brown, stout, zigzag, with long spines.
Flowers: 3/8" (10 mm) wide; bell-shaped, with 5 petals; greenish-yellow, covered with fine hairs; in short narrow clusters at leaf bases in late spring; usually male and female on separate twigs or trees.
Fruit: 6-16" (15-41 cm) long, 1 1/4" (3 cm) wide; flat pod; dark brown, hairy, slightly curved and twisted, thick-walled; shedding unopened in late autumn; many beanlike flattened dark brown seeds in sweetish edible pulp.

Habitat Moist soils of river flood plains in mixed forests; sometimes on dry upland limestone hills; also in waste places.

Range Extreme S. Ontario to central Pennsylvania, south to NW. Florida, west to SE. Texas, and north to SE. South Dakota; naturalized eastward; to 2000' (610 m).

Discussion Livestock and wildlife consume the honeylike, sweet pulp of the pods. Honey Locust is easily recognized by the large, branched spines on the trunk; thornless forms, however, are common in cultivation and are sometimes found wild. The spines have been used as pins. This hardy species is popular for shade, hedges, and attracting wildlife.