80. EOBINIA PSEUDACACIA LOCUST. 21 



Its chief point of value is as an ornamental tree for parks and lawns, 

 and it seems to be more appreciated in Europe than in this country as it 

 is more extensively planted there. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES are not recorded of this species. 



ORDER LEGUMINOSJE: PULSE FAMILY. 



Leaves alternate, usually compound, entire and furnished with stipules. Flowers 

 with 5 sepals more or less united at the base; petals 5, papilionaceous or regular; 

 stamens, diadelphous, monodelphous or distinct and with versatile anthers; pistils 

 single, simple and free. Fruit a legume (pod) with mostly albumenless seeds. 



GENUS ROBIXIA, L. 



Leaoes compound, odd-pinnate, with ovate to oblong entire stipellate leaflets, stip- 

 ules often in the form of prickly spines, the base of leaf -stalks covering the buds of 

 the next year. Flowers papilionaceous, showy, in pendent axillary racemes; calyx 

 short cainpanulate, o-toothed, the upper two teeth slightly coherent; petals forming 

 a large rounded standard, turned backward, and slightly shorter obtuse wings and 

 keel; stamens diadelphous (9 and 1); style bearded inside Fruit a compressed 

 linear, several- seeded pod, ribbed along the seed-bearing edge and opening by two 

 valves at maturity. 



Genus represented by trees and shrubs and named in compliment to MM. John and 

 Vespasian Robin, French botanist who first introduced the Locust tree in Europe. 



80. ROBINIA PSEUDACACIA, L. 

 LOCUST, YELLOW LOCUST, BLACK LOCUST. 



Ger., Gemine Acacie; Fr., RoUnier faux-acacia; Sp., Acacia false. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. Learns as described for the genus, glabrous, the leaflets 

 li to 3 in. in length, narrow-ovate generally and slightly mucroiiate, notched at the 

 apex: branches naked, excepting the branchlets and young shoots which are com- 

 monly furnished with strong, hooked prickles. Flowers delightfully fragrant, 

 white in loose slender racemes. Fruit, pods about 4 or 5 in. long by in. broad, 

 smooth and containing a half dozen or so brown seeds. 



A tree of medium size, very rarely attaining 80 ft. ('25 in.) in height and 

 3 or 4 ft. (1 in.) in diameter of trunk, of upright habit and broad top. 

 The branches of old trees present a peculiar zigzag form of growth, 

 giving the tree a character easily recognized when leafless. It is clothed 

 in a rather thick, rough, brown, bark furrowed longitudinally with firm 

 ridges. The light, handsome foliage of the tree constitutes one of its 

 principal charms, the leaves opening during the day, and as night comes 

 on, closing down as if for rest. The young shoots are usually furnished 

 with strong recurved prickles. 



HABITAT. The native range of the Locust is from Pennsylvania 

 southwestward to Georgia, but it is extensively naturalized over the 

 eastern United States generally. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood heavy, very hard, strong and durable 

 in contact with the soil, compact, and of a pinkish brown color, with 



