Native trees usually bear stout, often branched, spines. Winter buds are small and superposed. Leaves are alternate and compound, or twice compound.
Leaflets are small.
Unisexual and bisexual flowers are found on the same plant. The fruit is a large, compressed pod. Gleditsia Species Buds are very minute and hidden. Thorns are long, stout, and clustered on the trunk and branches. Leaves are normally pinnately compound, but may be bipinnately compound on vigorous shoots.