Gleditsia triacanthos Caesalpiniaceae Leaves are pinnately or bipinnately compound, alternate, and deciduous with 9-20 leaflet pairs. Leaflets are one inch long and hairy underneath. Twigs are stout and zigzag with large sometimes branched thorns. Bark is gray-brown and smooth becoming scaly and rough with thorns.
Flowers are green-yellow.
Fruit is a brown twisted legume, 8-24 inches long with sweet edible pulp between the seeds. Intolerant of shade. Click on photo to enlarge. All text and photographs are intended for educational purposes only and are not for commercial use in any form. 1999, all rights reserved.