Forest trees of black locust occur in the eastern and southerneastern portions of the state. As a forest tree, it attains heights of 80-100 feet and diameters of 30 inches. In other sections of the state it occurs in thickets on clay banks and waste places or singularly in fencrows and is normally smaller in statue. Leaflets are oblong and have entire leaf margins. Foliage is often brown by mid-summer due to the feeding of the black locust leaf miner.
Terminal buds are conspicuously absent.
Side buds are usually hidden by the petiole base or sunken beneath the eaf scar. Twigs are glabrous, or only slightly hairy, and a glossy, dark brown. Spines are unbranched and may remain attached tothe brance for many years. June flowers are fragrant and white to ivory in color. Flowers are the source of nectar for a preferred honey.