Thornless Honeylocust

Thornless Honeylocust

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis

Fabaceae (Legume Family)

▲ ▼ mature trees

▲ ▼ leaves

▲ fruit

▲ bark (somewhat platey with age)

▲ branch form

Location on campus: along sidewalk south of Hill Hall; along sidewalk from Ellis and Craig Hall to corner of Grand and National Ave.

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis: Thornless Honeylocust

leaves alternate, deciduous, pinnately or bipinnately compound; leaflets small, oval-shaped 1/2" long and 2 as wide with entire margins; rachis pubescent; leaflets bright glossy green
stems shiny, reddish-brown to greenish brown, zig-zag with swollen nodes
bark is gray-brown with scaly, platy ridges
flowers not significant; plant is dioecious; female trees bear long, twisted brown pods (up to 12" long)
grows 30-70' tall and 2/3 to equally wide; rounded to flat-topped open canopy
prefers full sun, very soil adaptable
wild species (Gleditsia triacanthos) has long (3-12") branched thorns on twigs, branches and emerging from trunk--not desirable in landscape
fast growth rate
wild species native to Missouri