Genus ROBINIA, Linn. 
Leguminacese. 
Sys:. Nat. 
Synonymes. 
Robitiia, JEschynomene, Pseudacacia, 
Diadelphia Decandria. 
Syst. Lin. 
Of Authors. 
Derivations. The genus Robinia was named in honour of Jean Robin, a French botanist, once herbalist to Henty IV., ol 
Fnnce. jEschynomene is a name given by Pliny to a plant, resembling the locust in its character, which contracted its leaves 
from the touch of the hand. It was derived from the Greek aischtinomai, which signifies to be modest. Pseudacacia is 
derived from the Greek pseudos, false, and acacia, from the resemblance of trees of this genus to the Acacia vera, or true Egyp- 
iia.l acacia. 
Generic Characters. Calyx short, and somewhat campanulate, 5-toothed or 5-cleft ; the two upper seg- 
ments shorter, approximated or cohering. Vexillum broad and large ; keel obtuse. Stamens diadel- 
phous, deciduous. Style bearded along the inside (next the free stamen.) Legume many-seeded, 
compressed, nearly sessile, the seminiferous suture margined ; valves flat and thin. Seeds fiat. 
Leaves unequally pinnate ; leaflets petiolulate, stipellate. Flowers showy, white, or rose-colour, in 
simple, usually pendant axillary racemes. Torrey and Gray, Flora. 
HE trees of the genus Robinia are chiefly natives of North Amei- 
ica, and are highly prized for their use and beauty. They are all 
readily propagated from seeds, by cuttings of the branches and 
roots, or by grafting ; and they will grow in any kind of soil that 
is not too wet. They are generally rapid in their growth, and of 
a corresponding longevity. In common with most trees and 
plants of rapid growth, they have the property of extending the principal roots 
close under the surface where the soil is usually the richest. But the same cause 
that produces this luxuriance at first, ultimately occasions the tree to grow more 
slowly, unless the roots are allowed ample space on every side; since, as they 
seldom penetrate deep, they soon exhaust all of trTeir proper pabulum from the 
soil within. their reach. For this reason, also, such trees are objectionable in 
hedge-rows, or scattered in groups in arable lands, where their roots prove a 
serious impediment to the plough, and shoot up in suckers, which injure the 
crops. On the other hand, roots which penetrate the earth perpendicularly, as 
well as horizontally, belong to trees more slow and uniform in their growth, and 
attain a larger size in proportion to the extent of ground they occupy. It does 
not appear, however, that a -rich soil is particularly injured by the Robinia? ; 
for, it is remarked that in Kentucky and western Tennessee, where the Robinia 
pseudacacia attains its largest size, and produces excellent timber, the land, when 
cleared, will yield from thirty to sixty bushels of maize to an acre, for several 
years in succession, without manure. And it has been asserted that mode- 
rately poor and worn-out lands in America may be restored to fertility by 
planting them with the locust, from the deposition of its leaves, bark, seeds, &c.. 
which undergo rapid decomposition, and are thereby converted into vegetable f 
mould. 
