of New York 



95 



COMMON LOCUST 



Robinia Pseudo-Acacia, Linnaeus 



The Common Locust, also called Black Locust, Yellow 

 Locust, and Acacia, is a valuable, and when in full bloom 

 a beautiful forest tree. It is unquestionably the best-known 

 American pod-bearing tree. 



The leaves are alternate, compound, with 7 to 21 leaflets, 

 8 to 14 inches long. Leaf- 

 lets are usually odd in 

 number, short-stalked, 1 to 

 2 inches long. 



The flowers appear in 

 May or June, are cream- 

 white, fragrant, resemble 

 a pea blossom, are ar- 

 ranged in drooping clus- 

 ters 4 to 5 inches long. The 

 fruit is a small, dark- 

 brown, thin pod, 2 to 4 

 inches long, Yi of an inch 

 wide, contains 4 to 8 small 

 brown seeds. The bark on 

 both young and old trunks 

 is reddish-brown, becomes 

 thick, deeply furrowed. 

 The twigs are stout, brit- 

 tle, greenish to reddish- 

 brown, bear two short 

 spines at each node. The 

 buds are small, imbedded 

 in bark, and 3 to 4 occur 

 above each other. The 

 wood is yellowish-brown, 

 very heavy, hard and durable 



COMMON LOCUST 

 One-fourth natural size. 

 Twig section, enlarged. 



It is used for posts, insulator 



pins, ties, fuel and ship-building. 



The Common Locust is found from the mountains of 

 Pennsylvania south to Georgia, west to Iowa and Kansas. 

 It is doubtful if this tree is native in any part of New York, 

 but it has been planted extensively and locally it has escaped 

 cultivation. It is now well established northward to Wash- 

 ington and Saratoga counties and westward to Ontario low- 

 lands and Lake Erie. The most vigorous growth is made on 

 moist fertile soil. Its valuable wood and rapid growth rec- 

 ommend it for planting, especially where the Locust Borer 

 need not be feared. This destructive insect has done heavy 

 damage to many plantations in recent years. 



