Gleditsia triacanthos
Honey Locust

Uses

Toxic parts

The plant contains potentially toxic compounds^[1].

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - raw or cooked. It can contain up to 30% sugar^[2]. Young seeds taste like raw peas^[3]. Seeds are not always borne in maritime regions because the tree prefers long hot summers^[4]. The oval seeds are about 8mm long^[5]. They contain 10.6 - 24.1% protein, 0.8 - 4.3% fat, 84.7% carbohydrate, 21.1% fibre, 4% ash, 280mg calcium and 320mg phosphorus per 100g^[6].

The seeds have been roasted and used as a coffee substitute^[7]. Seedpods - the pulp is sweet and can be eaten raw or made into sugar^[8]^[9]^[3]. The render young seedpods can be cooked and eaten^[3]. The pulp in older pods turns bitter^[5]. The seedpods are up to 40cm long and 4cm wide^[5]. A sweet, pleasant tasting drink can be made from the seed pods^[10].

The seed pulp has been used to make a drink^[10].

Unknown part

Coffee

Drink

Sweetener

Seed

Unknown use

Seedpod

Unknown use

Material uses

Planted for land reclamation on mining waste^[11].

The gum from the seeds has been suggested as an emulsifying substitute for acacia and tragacanth^[7]. The heartwood contains 4 - 4.8% tannin^[12].

Wood - strong, coarse-grained, elastic, very hard, very durable in contact with the soil, highly shock resistant^[13]^[14]^[15]^[8]. It does not shrink much but splits rather easily and does not glue well^[5]. It weighs 42lb per cubic foot^[5]. Largely used for making fence posts and rails, wheel hubs, farm implements etc and in construction^[13]^[14]^[15]^[8].

Unknown part

Gum

Tannin

Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The pods have been made into a tea for the treatment of indigestion, measles, catarrh etc^[1]^[10]. The juice of the pods is antiseptic^[1]. The pods have been seen as a good antidote for children's complaints^[10].

The alcoholic extract of the fruits of the honey locust, after elimination of tannin, considerably retarded the growth, up to 63% of Ehrlich mouse carcinoma^[7]. However, the cytotoxicity of the extract was quite high and the animals, besides losing weight, showed dystrophic changes in their liver and spleen^[16]. The alcoholic extract of the fruit exerted moderate oncostatic activity against sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich carcinoma at the total dose 350 mg/kg/body weight/mouse. Weight loss was considerable^[7]. An infusion of the bark has been drunk and used as a wash in the treatment of dyspepsia^[10]. It has also been used in the treatment of whooping cough, measles, smallpox etc^[10]. The twigs and the leaves contain the alkaloids gleditschine and stenocarpine^[17]. Stenocarpine has been used as a local anaesthetic whilst gleditschine causes stupor and loss of reflex activity^[17].

Current research is examining the leaves as a potential source of anticancer compounds^[1].

Unknown part

Anaesthetic

Antiseptic

Cancer

Stomachic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy

Ecological Functions

Soil builder

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in spring in a greenhouse^[18]. The seed should have swollen up, in which case it can be sown, if it has not swollen then soak it for another 24 hours in warm water. If this does not work then file away some of the seed coat but be careful not to damage the embryo^[18]. Further soaking should then cause the seed to swell. One it has swollen, the seed should germinate within 2 - 4 weeks at 20°c. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual deep pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Give the plants some protection from the cold for their first few winters outdoors.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Gleditsia triacanthos. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils, acid or alkaline^[2]^[11], so long as they are well-drained^[19]. Requires a sunny position^[4]. Tolerates drought once established^[20] and atmospheric pollution^[11]. Salt tolerant^[11]. The honey locust is speculated to tolerate an annual precipitation of 60 to 150cm, an annual temperature range of 10 to 21°C, and a pH in the range of 6 to 8^[7].

Trees are rather tender when young, but they are hardy to about -30°c once they are established^[11]. They grow best in southern Britain^[4]. The honey locust is often cultivated in warm temperate zones for its edible seeds and seedpods^[19], trees start to bear when about 10 years old and produce commercial crops for about 100 years^[5]. Wild trees seldom live longer than 120 years^[21]. Trees are shy to flower and therefore do not often produce a worthwhile crop in Britain due to our cooler summers^[19]. There are some named varieties^[3]. The sub-species nana produced lots of viable seed in the hot summer of 1989 at Kew[K], it also had a very good crop in 1994, 1996 and in 1999[K]. The sub-species inermis had a very good crop of pods in the autumn of 1996[K]. 'Ashworth' has pods with a very sweet pulp that has a melon-like flavour^[3]. The flowers have a pleasing scent^[22]. A very ornamental tree^[20], the flowers are very attractive to bees^[8]^[7]. Trees have a light canopy, they come into leaf late and lose their leaves early^[4] making them an excellent canopy tree for a woodland garden. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus^[11].

Unlike most plants in this family, honey locusts do not fix atmospheric nitrogen^[2]^[23].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Gleditsia triacanthos. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Gleditsia triacanthos.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

? ^1.0^1.1^1.2^1.3^1.4 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
? ^2.0^2.1^2.2^2.3 Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987. ()
? ^3.0^3.1^3.2^3.3^3.4^3.5 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
? ^4.0^4.1^4.2^4.3^4.4^4.5 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
? ^5.0^5.1^5.2^5.3^5.4^5.5^5.6^5.7 Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. ISBN 0292780206 (1982-00-00)
? ^6.0^6.1 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
? ^7.0^7.1^7.2^7.3^7.4^7.5^7.6^7.7^7.8 Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - (1983-00-00)
? ^8.0^8.1^8.2^8.3^8.4^8.5 Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press ISBN 0-292-78958-3 (1987-00-00)
? ^9.0^9.1 McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press ISBN 0-253-28925-4 (1977-00-00)
? ^10.0^10.1^10.2^10.3^10.4^10.5^10.6^10.7 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
? ^11.0^11.1^11.2^11.3^11.4^11.5^11.6^11.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
? ^12.0^12.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
? ^13.0^13.1^13.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
? ^14.0^14.1^14.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
? ^15.0^15.1^15.2 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
? ^16.0^16.1 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. ISBN 0-330-37376-5 (1998-00-00)
? ^17.0^17.1^17.2 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
? ^18.0^18.1 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
? ^19.0^19.1^19.2 Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. ISBN 0-670-82929-3 (1990-00-00)
? ^20.0^20.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
? Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
? Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. ISBN 0889025649 (1989-00-00)
? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)

"image:Gleditsia_tricanthos_0.7_R.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

[PFAFimport-222-1] ? ^1.0^1.1^1.2^1.3^1.4 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)

[PFAFimport-160-2] ? ^2.0^2.1^2.2^2.3 Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987. ()

[PFAFimport-183-3] ? ^3.0^3.1^3.2^3.3^3.4^3.5 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)

[PFAFimport-11-4] ? ^4.0^4.1^4.2^4.3^4.4^4.5 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)

[PFAFimport-227-5] ? ^5.0^5.1^5.2^5.3^5.4^5.5^5.6^5.7 Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. ISBN 0292780206 (1982-00-00)

[PFAFimport-218-6] ? ^6.0^6.1 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)

[PFAFimport-269-7] ? ^7.0^7.1^7.2^7.3^7.4^7.5^7.6^7.7^7.8 Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - (1983-00-00)

[PFAFimport-149-8] ? ^8.0^8.1^8.2^8.3^8.4^8.5 Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press ISBN 0-292-78958-3 (1987-00-00)

[PFAFimport-159-9] ? ^9.0^9.1 McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press ISBN 0-253-28925-4 (1977-00-00)

[PFAFimport-257-10] ? ^10.0^10.1^10.2^10.3^10.4^10.5^10.6^10.7 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)

[PFAFimport-200-11] ? ^11.0^11.1^11.2^11.3^11.4^11.5^11.6^11.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

[PFAFimport-240-12] ? ^12.0^12.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)

[PFAFimport-46-13] ? ^13.0^13.1^13.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)

[PFAFimport-61-14] ? ^14.0^14.1^14.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)

[PFAFimport-82-15] ? ^15.0^15.1^15.2 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)

[PFAFimport-260-16] ? ^16.0^16.1 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. ISBN 0-330-37376-5 (1998-00-00)

[PFAFimport-4-17] ? ^17.0^17.1^17.2 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)

[PFAFimport-78-18] ? ^18.0^18.1 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)

[PFAFimport-202-19] ? ^19.0^19.1^19.2 Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. ISBN 0-670-82929-3 (1990-00-00)

[PFAFimport-1-20] ? ^20.0^20.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)

[PFAFimport-229-21] ? Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)

[PFAFimport-245-22] ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)

[PFAFimport-226-23] ? Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. ISBN 0889025649 (1989-00-00)

[PFAFimport-43-24] ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)

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Article is incomplete	Yes +
Article requires citations	No +
Article requires cleanup	Yes +
Belongs to family	Leguminosae +
Belongs to genus	Gleditsia +
Functions as	Soil builder +
Has common name	Honey Locust +
Has drought tolerance	Tolerant +
Has edible part	Unknown part +, Seeds + and Seedpod +
Has edible use	Coffee substitute +, Drink +, Unknown use + and Sweetener +
Has environmental tolerance	Drought + and Salinity +
Has fertility type	Insects +
Has flowers of type	Hermaphrodite +
Has growth rate	Moderate +
Has hardiness zone	3 +
Has image	Gleditsia tricanthos 0.7 R.jpg +
Has lifecycle type	Perennial +
Has material part	Unknown part +
Has material use	Gum +, Tannin + and Wood +
Has mature height	20 +
Has mature width	15 +
Has medicinal part	Unknown part +
Has medicinal use	Anaesthetic +, Antiseptic +, Cancer + and Stomachic +
Has primary image	Gleditsia_tricanthos_0.7_R.jpg +
Has salinity tolerance	Tolerant +
Has search name	gleditsia triacanthos + and x +
Has shade tolerance	No shade +
Has soil ph preference	Acid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preference	Clay +
Has soil teloamyture preference	Loamy +
Has soil tesandyture preference	Sandy +
Has soil water retention preference	Well drained +
Has sun preference	Full sun +
Has taxonomy name	Gleditsia triacanthos +
Has water requirements	moderate +
Inhabits ecosystem niche	Canopy +
Is deciduous or evergreen	Deciduous +
Is herbaceous or woody	Woody +
Is taxonomy type	Species +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil	No +
Uses mature size measurement unit	Meters +

Uses

Toxic parts

Edible uses

Notes

Unknown part

Seed

Seedpod

Material uses

Unknown part

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Unknown part

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Forage

Shelter

Propagation

Cultivation

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

Polycultures & Guilds

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

Subspecies

Full Data

References

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