bristly locust

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bristly locust
• moss locust
• rose acacia
• rose-acacia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Robinia hispida f. rosea
• Robinia elliottii
• Pseudo-acacia hispida
• Robinia leucantha
• Robinia boyntonii
• Robinia hispida var. rosea
• Robinia kelseyi
• Robinia hirsuta
• Robinia hispida var. inermis
• Robinia hispida var. kelseyi
• Robinia hispida var. boyntonii
• Robinia pauciflora
• Robinia hispida var. hispida
• Robinia fertilis
• Robinia hispida var. macrophylla
• Robinia albicans
• Robinia hispida var. elliottii
• Robinia hispida f. macrophylla
• Robinia montana
• Robinia hispida var. fertilis
• Robinia pallida
• Robinia hispida var. nana
• Robinia glabrescens
• Robinia michauxii
• Robinia nana
• Robinia pedunculata
• Robinia unakae
• Robinia complexa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and the genus Robinia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Germany. Moving toward the west, its range extends into Southwestern Europe, specifically throughout France. The species is also present in Southeastern Europe, occupying territories in both Bulgaria and Italy. Finally, its distribution reaches the Baltic States located in Eastern Europe.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Robinia hispidia is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environments, though it is frequently encountered within the controlled settings of a garden. In these cultivated habitats, the plant benefits from managed soil conditions and consistent moisture, which can influence its growth rate and structural development. While it thrives in garden landscapes due to its ornamental qualities, its ecological presence is defined by its ability to colonize open areas and disturbed sites where light availability is high. The plant interacts with its local ecosystem through its root systems and its role in providing nectar for various pollinators, making it a functional component of both managed ornamental spaces and semi-natural transitional zones.

Habitat :

garden

Life history

The life history of Robinia hispida is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence within its ecological niche. In terms of its structural growth habit and life form, the plant is classified as a phanerophyte, meaning its perennable buds are elevated above the ground surface on woody stems. Additionally, it can be categorized under the nanophanerophyte life form, reflecting its specific architectural development and height characteristics during its developmental stages.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Robinia hispidia is characterized by a woody growth form that manifests as both a tree and a shrub. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. As a self-supporting organism, it does not exhibit climbing behaviors such as liana or vine growth. The plant's height is variable, with a minimum height of 1.5 m, a maximum height of 3 m, and an average plant height of approximately 4.57 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

4.57 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Robinia hispida is characterized by its adaptation to temperate forest ecosystems, primarily through its specialized metabolic processes. Central to its energy production is its photosynthetic pathway, which follows the C3 mechanism; this process involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle, a method typical of most deciduous woody species in temperate zones. This C3 pathway allows the plant to efficiently manage carbon assimilation under moderate light and temperature conditions, though it necessitates careful regulation of transpiration to balance gas exchange with water loss. Beyond carbon fixation, the plant's physiological framework includes robust nitrogen-fixing capabilities through symbiotic relationships with Rhizobium bacteria in its root nodules, which enhances its nutrient uptake and supports vigorous growth in nitrogen-limited soils. Additionally, its physiological resilience is marked by seasonal dormancy patterns and secondary metabolic processes that produce various bioactive compounds, contributing to its overall survival and chemical profile.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Robinia hispidula is characterized by a flexible flowering period that can occur throughout much of the year, with flowering typically starting as early as December and extending through a variable range of months, eventually concluding in June. The plant produces seeds with a highly specific mass profile, maintaining a mean seed mass of approximately 0.01819875 g. Individual seed weights fluctuate within a narrow range, with a recorded minimum mass of 0.01637 g and a maximum mass of 0.02 g. Regarding the movement of its progeny, the species utilizes an autochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by the plant itself through mechanisms such as gravity or mechanical tension.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Dec

Flowering time :

Jun

Seed mass max:

0.02 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01819875 g

Seed mass min:

0.01637 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Robinia hispida has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Procyanidin.

Procyanidin

1. Mutation research