honey locust

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• honey locust
• sweet locust
• thorny locust
• three-thorned acacia
• Common Honeylocust
• Thorny Common Honeylocust
• honey-locust
• sweet-bean
• sweet-locust
• three-thorn-acacia
• Honey shuck
• Thornless honey locust

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vachellia villaregalis
• Caesalpiniodes heterophyllum
• Caesalpiniodes triacanthum
• Gleditsia triacanthos f. elegantissima
• Gleditsia triacanthos f. pendula
• Gleditsia triacanthos var. ferox
• Gleditsia ferox var. nana
• Gleditsia triacanthos f. nana
• Gleditsia triacanthos var. nana
• Gleditsia triacanthos f. brachycarpos
• Gleditsia brachycarpos
• Gleditsia triacanthos lusus pendula
• Acacia villaregalis
• Gleditsia laevis
• Gleditsia triacanthos var. brachycarpos
• Melilobus heterophyla
• Gleditsia triacanthos var. polysperma
• Gleditsia polysperma
• Gleditsia sinensis var. nana
• Gleditsia spinosa
• Gleditsia triacanthos var. laevis
• Gleditsia triacanthos var. bujotii
• Gleditsia inermis var. elegantissima
• Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis
• Gleditsia triacanthos var. macrocarpos
• Gleditsia triacanthos var. horrida
• Gleditsia ferox
• Gleditsia flava
• Gleditsia meliloba
• Gleditsia latisiliqua
• Gleditsia bujotii
• Gleditsia excelsa-pendula
• Gleditsia micracantha

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, falling within the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Gleditsia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Austria and Germany. Its range also extends through the territories of Czechia and Slovakia. Additionally, the species is present in the landscape of Hungary. Finally, its geographical presence reaches into Southwestern Europe, specifically within France.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Gleditsia triacantho is characterized by its presence in lowland habitats, where it thrives within a specific altitudinal gradient. This species is found across an elevational range spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 1500 m AMSL. To survive within these varying environmental conditions, the plant employs active biological defense mechanisms, which play a critical role in its ecological resilience and survival against herbivory and other environmental pressures.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Gleditsia triacanthos is characterized by its classification as a perennial, meaning it maintains its existence through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody branches, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit and survival strategy. This phanerophytic life form is consistent across its developmental stages, ensuring that the plant can establish a robust, long-lived presence within its ecological niche.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Gleditsia triacanthos is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. It functions as a self-supporting, independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, and it maintains a strictly terrestrial habitat. This species exhibits significant variation in stature, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 40 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 27.16 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height mean:

27.16 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Gleditsia triacantha is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which facilitates carbon fixation through the Calvin cycle under typical environmental conditions. The plant's vegetative structure features paripinnate leaf forms, with individual leaflets displaying significant morphological variation in size; the leaf length ranges from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 20 cm, while the leaf width varies from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 1.2 cm. Furthermore, the species exhibits a specialized symbiotic capability as a nitrogen fixer, allowing it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form, thereby enhancing its nutrient uptake and supporting growth in nitrogen-limited soils.

Leaf form :

paripinnate

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

1.2 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Gleditsia triacanthos is characterized by a specific flowering and fruiting cycle. The plant produces green flowers that are relatively small, ranging in length from 0.25 cm to 0.3 cm. these flowers are arranged in a raceme inflorescence, which typically measures between 0.1 m and 0.12 m in length. The flowering period is noted to begin in June and conclude in April, indicating a variable seasonal cycle. Following pollination, the plant develops brown, pod-type fruits. These pods are quite substantial, with a length varying between 20 cm and 45 cm and a width ranging from 2.5 cm to 5 cm. The seeds contained within these pods exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.1764548886 g, though individual seed mass can range from a minimum of 0.0197 g to a maximum of 0.223875 g. Dispersal of the seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily spread by animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flower length max:

0.3 cm

Flower length min:

0.25 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit colour :

brown

Fruit length max:

45 cm

Fruit length min:

20 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

5 cm

Fruit width min:

2.5 cm

Inflorescence :

raceme

Inflorescence length max:

0.12 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.1 m

Seed mass max:

0.223875 g

Seed mass mean:

0.1764548886 g

Seed mass min:

0.0197 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Gleditsia triacanthos has 33 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-catechin, (1E,4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one, (1E,4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one, Ash, CALCIUM.

(+)-catechin

1. Dr. Duke

(1E,4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one

1. Natural product research

(1E,4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one

1. Natural product research

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

ERIODICTYOL

1. Natural product research

Epicatechin 3-glucoside

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Fisetin

1. Dr. Duke

Fustin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Gleditsia triacanthos has 132 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, Abortifacient, Acetylcholinergic, Acidulant.

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenergic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Gleditsia triacanthos has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hepatic cancer.

Hepatic cancer

1. Natural product research