28 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



{Cytissiis) whose golden flower-clusters much resemble those 

 of the locust in size and shape. The term "false acacia" 

 which is embodied in the specific name alludes to the re- 

 semblance of this species to the true acacias. "White honey- 

 flower" and "pea flower" are of obvious derivation. "Post 

 locust" is due to the fact that the wood is very durable when 

 exposed to the weather which makes it much sought after 

 for posts and pillars. The word "locust" so commonly used 

 for the species of Robiiiia is said to be derived from the in- 

 sects of the same name which seems hardly credible though 

 there is no accounting for the taste in common names. The 

 locusts that formed the food of John the Baptist were not 

 insects, it is inferred, but the fruit of the carob tree 

 (Ccrafonia siliqua), and the husks which served as food for 

 the prodigal son just previous to the banquet in which the fat- 

 ted calf played a prominent part must have been from the 

 same species. 



Two other species of Robinia are known as "clammy 

 locust" {R. z'iscosa) and "bristly locust" {R. hispida). Both 

 vernacular names are free translations of the scientific ones 

 and refer to twig characteristics. On account of their rosy 

 flowers both are also known as "rose acacia". Sometimes 

 thev are called "honey locust" but this name more properly 

 belongs to the species of Glcditsia. R. viscosa is known oc- 

 casionally as "red locust" and the bristly young twigs of R. 

 hispida have gained for it the name of "moss locust." The 

 plant regarded as the true "honey locust" is Gleditsia 

 triacanthos. It derives its name, not from any characteristic 

 of the flower, but from the circumstance that the broad, flat, 

 many-seeded pod, has a strip of sweetish pulp down one edge 

 of it which may be eaten if one is hungry enough. Other 

 names suggesting the same derivation are "honey shucks" 



