Robinia pseudoacacia

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Robinia pseudoacacia
Light:Full Sun
Moisture:Xeric Mesic
Hardiness:3
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Height:82'
Width:49'
Speed:Fast
Blooms:Early Summer
Open Woods Forest
Native to:
Nitrogen Fixer Shelter
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating:PFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Robinia pseudoacacia (common name: black locust)

Propagation: Seed - pre-soak for 48 hours in warm water and sow the seed in late winter in a cold frame[1]. A short stratification improves germination rates and time[1]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in the following summer. Other reports say that the seed can be sown in an outdoor seedbed in spring[2][3]. The seed stores for over 10 years[4].

Suckers taken during the dormant season.

Cultivation: Succeeds in any well-drained soil, preferring one that is not too rich[5][6]. Succeeds in dry barren sites, tolerating drought and atmospheric pollution[7][6]. Succeeds in a hot dry position. The plant is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation in the range of 61 to 191cm, an annual temperature in the range of 7.6 to 20.3°C and a pH of 6.0 to 7.0[8].

A fast-growing tree for the first 30 years of its life[9][8], it can begin to flower when only 6 years old, though 10 - 12 years is more normal[10]. The flowers are a rich source of nectar and are very fragrant[11] with a vanilla-like scent[12].

The branches are brittle and very liable to wind damage[6]. When plants are grown in rich soils they produce coarse and rank growth which is even more liable to wind damage[13][6].

The plants sucker freely and often form dense thickets, the suckers have vicious thorns[14]. There are some named varieties selected for their ornamental value[9], some of these are thornless[14].

Any pruning should be done in late summer in order to reduce the risk of bleeding[6].

The leaves are rich in tannin and other substances which inhibit the growth of other plants[15]. A very greedy tree, tending to impoverish the soil[15]. (Although a legume, I believe it does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[K])

A very good bee plant[16][15][17][18].

This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[19][6].

Range: Eastern N. America - Appalachian and Ozark mountain ranges. Naturalized in Britain[20].

Habitat: Woods and thickets[21], especially in deep well-drained calcareous soils[22].

Edibility: Seed - cooked[23][24][25]. Oily[26]. They are boiled and used like peas[27]. After boiling the seeds lose their acid taste[28]. The seed is about 4mm long and is produced in pods up to 10cm long that contain 4 - 8 seeds[11]. A nutritional analysis is available[29].

Young seedpods - cooked[30]. The pods contain a sweetish pulp that is safe to eat and is relished by small children[18].(This report is quite probably mistaken, having been confused with the honey locust, Gleditsia spp[K].)

A strong, narcotic and intoxicating drink is made from the skin of the fruit[15].

Piperonal is extracted from the plant, it is used as a vanilla substitute[30]. No further details.

All the above entries should be treated with some caution, see the notes at the top of the page regarding toxicity.

Flowers - cooked. A fragrant aroma, they are used in making jams and pancakes[16][27]. They can also be made into a pleasant drink[27].

Medicinal: Febrifuge[15][31].

The flowers are antispasmodic, aromatic, diuretic, emollient and laxative[29]. They are cooked and eaten for the treatment of eye ailments[29]. The flower is said to contain the antitumor compound benzoaldehyde[8].

The inner bark and the root bark are emetic, purgative and tonic[32][16][29][33]. The root bark has been chewed to induce vomiting, or held in the mouth to allay toothache[34][33], though it is rarely if ever prescribed as a therapeutic agent in Britain[32].

The fruit is narcotic[15]. This probably refers to the seedpod.

The leaves are cholagogue and emetic[16]. The leaf juice inhibits viruses[29].

Usage: A drying oil is obtained from the seed[23][16].

An essential oil is obtained from the flowers. Highly valued, it is used in perfumery[16][35][36].

A yellow dye is obtained from the bark[37]. Robinetin is a strong dyestuff yielding with different mordants different shades similar to those obtained with fisetin, quercetin, and myricetin; with aluminum mordant, it dyes cotton to a brown-orange shade[8].

The bark contains tannin, but not in sufficient quantity for utilization[37]. On a 10% moisture basis, the bark contains 7.2% tannin and the heartwood of young trees 5.7%[37].

The bark is used to make paper and is a substitute for silk and wool[15].

Trees sucker freely, especially if coppiced, and they can be used for stabilizing banks etc[6][14].

Wood - close-grained, exceedingly hard, heavy, very strong, resists shock and is very durable in contact with the soil. It weighs 45lb per cubic foot and is used in shipbuilding and for making fence posts, treenails, floors etc[32][16][13][15][31][25][11][22][38][39]. A very good fuel[11], but it should be used with caution because it flares up and projects sparks[14]. The wood of Robinia pseudoacacia var. rectissima, the so called 'Long Island' or 'Shipmast' locust, has a greater resistance to decay and wood borers, outlasting other locust posts and stakes by 50 - 100%[8].

Pollinators: Bees

Notes: Yet another species where it can be toxic to humans but I do not know how well birds do with it. There are certainly some birds that eat the seeds.

Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.

Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.

Pollution: Tolerates environmental pollution.

Seed Ripens: Late Fall-Early Spring

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Known Hazards: All parts of the plant (except the flowers) and especially the bark, should be considered to be toxic[32][40][41]. The toxins are destroyed by heat[40].

Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 McMillan-Browse, Philip. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books, 1985.
  2. ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
  3. ↑ Gordon, A and D Rowe. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. 1982.
  4. ↑ Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
  5. ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  7. ↑ Hitchcock, Leo. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1955.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Duke, James. Handbook of Energy Crops. 1983.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
  10. ↑ Elias, Thomas. The Complete Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
  12. ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Lauriault, Jean. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada. Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1989.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
  17. ↑ Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes. Garden Way, 1978.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Allardice, Pamela. A-Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers, 1993.
  19. ↑ RHS. The Garden Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society, 1987.
  20. ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
  21. ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Vines, Robert. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press, 1987.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
  24. ↑ Harris, Ben. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health, 1973.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
  26. ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
  28. ↑ Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
  34. ↑ Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
  35. ↑ Schery. Robert. Plants for Man. Prentice Hall, 1972.
  36. ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 Rottsieper, E. Vegetable Tannins. The Forestal Land, 1946.
  38. ↑ Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.
  39. ↑ Vines, Robert. Trees of North Texas. University of Texas Press, 1982.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.
  41. ↑ Cooper, Marion. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. The Stationery Office, 1984.


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