THE CLAMMY LOCUST 



THE Clammy Locust is easily distinguished by the viscid exudation on the twigs, 

 pods and leaf-stalks. It is a more southern form than the Common Locust, 

 being native to the mountainous regions of Virginia, Georgia, and the Carolinas. 

 It is also a smaller species, the trees seldom attaining a height greater than forty feet, and 

 in the North generally much less than this. The flower-clusters are also strikingly different, 

 being shorter and more compact and of a beautiful pale rose color instead of white ; they 

 appear noticeably later in the season than those of the Common Locust. As will be seen 

 from the pictures, the leaves are very similar in the two species. 



The flowers of both these Locusts are adapted to pollination by bees, especially 

 bumble-bees, which visit them freely. It would not be strange if it frequently happened 

 that a bee would go from one kind of tree to the other if flowers of both should .be present 

 at the same time, and that in consequence a natural hybrid should result. Perhaps this 

 is the origin of the beautiful variety of Locust called bella-rosea, which is much in favor 

 for ornamental planting. It is commonly considered a variety of the Common Locust, 

 and is believed to have resulted from a crossing of the two species. 



Another locust-like shrub is very commonly planted in ornamental landscapes: 

 it is the Rose Acacia, and is known technically as Robinia hispida. It is a very hairy plant, 

 and has long racemes of beautiful rose-colored flowers. Originally native to nearly the same 

 region as the Clammy Locust, it fortunately is hardy in the North and is very useful in 

 making thickets by means of underground stems. It is at once distinguished by the hairs 

 that give the growing parts almost a moss-covered appearance. It is sometimes called the 

 Bristly Locust. 



In the extreme Southwestern States there is a shrub-like Locust, called commonly 

 the New Mexican Locust and technically Robinia Neo-Mexicana. It sometimes becomes 

 a tree twenty-five feet high, and bears rose-colored flowers. The pods are hairy but not 

 viscid as are those of the Clammy Locust. 



All of these Locusts have flowers closely resembling those of the peas and beans of 

 our gardens, and pod -like fruits resembling the fruits of these familiar vegetables. This 

 fact enables the botanists to classify them in the great family of legumes, which includes 

 many of our most important plants, both wild and cultivated. 



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