Black Locust

Black Locust is a tree in the subfamily of the pea family. It is native to the southeastern United States, but has been widely planted and naturalized elsewhere in temperate North America, Europe, Southern Africa and Asia, and is considered an invasive species in some areas. With a trunk up to to 52 m tall, and leaves 10–25 cm long, pinnate with 9–19 oval leaflets. The intensely fragrant flowers are white, 8–20 cm long, and are considered edible when cooked. The fruit is a legume 5–10 cm long, containing 4–10 seeds. Although similar in general appearance to Honey locust, it lacks that tree's characteristic long branched spines on the trunk, instead having the pairs of short thorns at the base of each leaf; the leaflets are also much broader.