HoneyLocust

== AKA ==
Gleditsia, Locust
== General ==
Honey-locust, is a native tree in the northeast. This tree gets pretty big, but not as big as other monster trees in Connecticut. 
They have the traditional once compound leaves. However, what's interesting about this tree (only other than the Sassafras), they have 2 types of leaves. The once compound leaves, and they also develop twice compound leaves, on the same tree. Double compound leaves tend to be on young, fresh wood. Leaves are deciduous, and will turn orange or yellow in October and November before dropping. 
Bark of this tree resembles its relative, the black locust. On old trees, the bark gets deeply furrowed. I will get a picture from our park of our tree's bark. Maybe it'll have some pods too. Bark on younger trees is much smoother, but still shallowly furrowed. 
Both trees appear in the Fabaceae family. Honey locust produces a long twisted pod containing many seeds. I've tried growing them from pods I took from our park. At least seven or eight pods, and didn't get a tree. Most of them don't germinate though. Finding a honey locust sapling is very hard, as its a much rarer tree. They don't seem to be very common, at least not in our part of the state. If you want one, your best luck would probly be getting one from a nursery. 
Many trees have very big tree like thorns on their trunks. Branches have often a singular, long, sword like thorn, which can easily draw blood if its scratched upon. This is probly the major strike that gives the Honey Locust a bad name. Good news! There are plenty of varieties that are just like any honey locust, they just don't develop thorns. Thorns in most trees are the tree's defense mechanism they use against preditors (herbivores) and harm from other animals and people. Young trees tend to have more thorns, but isn't always true. 
== Quick Info ==
30-70' Equal spread.
Native 
Has Thorns (There is a thornless cultivar)
Yellow fall color
Grey ridged or furrowed bark. 
Once compound and twice compound leaves on same tree.
Small catkin flowers in May. 
Long seed pods. Gives off Honey smell when broken. Also has a honey like sap. Freshly cut wood also has a honey like smell. 
Leaves out late in Spring. Category:Trees and Shrubs
Category:Nature