Honey Locust

More info for the terms: natural, tree

honeylocust
common honeylocust
honey shucks locust
sweet bean locust


TAXONOMY:
The currently accepted scientific name for honeylocust is Gleditsia
triacanthos L. (Cesalpiniaceae) [11,14,16,27,42]. Thornless
honeylocust (G. t. forma inermis Schneid.) is occasionally found wild
[27,42].

Natural hybridization between honeylocust and water-locust (G.
aquatica) has been reported [27].


LIFE FORM:
Tree

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS:
No special status

OTHER STATUS:
NO-ENTRY





DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Gleditsia triacanthos
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION:
The natural range of honeylocust extends from central Pennsylvania
through extreme southern Ontario, extreme southern Michigan, southern
Wisconsin, and extreme southeastern Minnesota to extreme southeastern
South Dakota; south through eastern Nebraska to eastern Texas; east to
Alabama; and northeast along the western slopes of the Appalachians.
Isolated populations occur in northwestern Florida. Honeylocust is
naturalized east of the Appalachians as far north as Nova Scotia [16,27].

More info for the terms: forest, natural

The natural range of honeylocust extends from central Pennsylvania
through extreme southern Ontario, extreme southern Michigan, southern
Wisconsin, and extreme southeastern Minnesota to extreme southeastern
South Dakota; south through eastern Nebraska to eastern Texas; east to
Alabama; and northeast along the western slopes of the Appalachians.
Isolated populations occur in northwestern Florida. Honeylocust is
naturalized east of the Appalachians as far north as Nova Scotia [16,27].



Honeylocust distribution. 1971 USDA, Forest Service map provided by Thompson and others [46].

More info for the terms: cover, forest, natural

Honeylocust is usually only a minor component of natural forest stands.
It is considered an accessory species in four SAF cover types: bur oak
(Quercus macrocarpa), willow oak (Q. phellos)-water oak (Q.
nigra)-diamondleaf (laurel) oak (Q. laurifolia), sweetgum (Liquidambar
styraciflua)-willow oak, and sugarberry (Celtis laevigata)-American elm
(Ulmus americana). Honeylocust is a secondary species in all other SAF
cover types listed above [8,17].

Mesophytic species commonly associated with honeylocust include red
maple (Acer rubrum), persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), black tupelo
(Nyssa sylvatica), sweet pecan (Carya illinoensis), boxelder (Acer
negundo), Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioica), and black walnut
(Juglans nigra) [8].

More info for the term: tree

Tree

More info for the term: tussock

Rows of honeylocust planted for windbreaks showed a positive response
to release [9].

In some areas honeylocust invades rangelands. Honeylocust is
susceptible to triclopyr and to a mixture of picloram and 2,4,-D [29].

Honeylocust is not usually subject to serious insect and disease
problems; however, with the increase in plantations of honeylocust,
there has been a concomitant increase in insect pests. Honeylocust is
host to a number of leaf feeders including spider mites, white marked
tussock moth, and honeylocust plant bug. The only serious disease of
honeylocust is a canker which is occasionally fatal [8].

Damage to young honeylocust is caused by rabbits gnawing the bark [8]
and by livestock and white-tailed deer browsing [8,36].

More info on this topic.

More info for the term: tree

Honeylocust begins to flower when its leaves are nearly full grown,
from around May 10 in the southern parts of its range to around June 25
in the northern parts of its range [8,42]. The legumes ripen from
September to October, usually falling after ripening but sometimes
remaining on the tree through February [8,16,39,42].

Tree with adventitious-bud root crown/soboliferous species root sucker

More info for the term: natural

The currently accepted scientific name for honeylocust is Gleditsia
triacanthos L. (Cesalpiniaceae) [11,14,16,27,42]. Thornless
honeylocust (G. t. forma inermis Schneid.) is occasionally found wild
[27,42].

Natural hybridization between honeylocust and water-locust (G.
aquatica) has been reported [27].