Gleditsia 



Leguminosae 



589 



rather sandy soil in the alluvial bottoms of the Tippecanoe River, and 

 elsewhere in similar habitats. It sometimes invades marshland where it 

 is not too wet and forms complete stands. It is to be noted that grazing 

 animals do not eat this or the next species. I have seen thick stands of 

 this species where the blue grass was closely grazed but this plant was 

 not eaten. The plant contains a strong purgative principle. 

 Mass. to Ind., southw. to N. C. and Term. 



5. Cassia marilandica L. (Cassia Medsgeri Shafer.) Map 1200. Infre- 

 quent in the southern third of the state, becoming rare northward, and 

 probably entirely absent from the northern counties. It is found mostly in 

 low ground along roadsides and in low woodland and alluvial bottoms along 

 streams. This species is often confused with the preceding one from which 

 it is easily separated by the characters given in the key. The pubescence 

 of Cassia marilandica is appressed while that of Cassia hebecarpa is 

 spreading. The plant is a darker green, flowers a little later, and is not 

 as aggressive as the preceding. 



Pa. to Iowa, southw. to Ga. and Tex. 



3544. GLEDITSIA L. Honeylocust 



Pods (exclusive of stipe) less than 6 cm long, 1-seeded, rarely with 2 or 3 seed; seed 



orbicular !• G - aquatica. 



Pods (exclusive of stipe) more than 6 cm long, pods of normal size with more than 3 

 seed; seed oval or nearly orbicular. 

 Pods mostly more than 15 cm long, with pulp between the partitions or nearly want- 

 ing in the thornless form. 



Trees with thorns 2. G. triacanthos. 



Tree3 without thorns 2a. G. triacanthos f. inermis. 



Pods mostly 10-15 cm lung, without pulp between the partitions 3. G. texana. 



1. Gleditsia aquatica Marsh. Waterlocust. Map 1201. This small 

 tree grows on the low borders of sloughs and in swamps in a habitat so 

 low that the base is usually more or less submerged during the winter 



