Podcast Script

Welcome, interested podcast listeners! I’m so glad you want to know more about the amazing black locust tree! This truly excellent dicot plant is native to the Appalachian and Ozark mountains, but it can be found in many other parts of the world, including right here on the DHS campus! It is a medium sized tree, growing about 14-25 meters tall, but it has very rapid juvenile growth and matures early, which makes it useful as an ornamental. Take a look at the bark; you’ll see that it’s grey-brown with deep furrows and flat topped ridges. You can also observe that the leaves are pinnate, which means that each leaf is made up of many individual leaflets arranged symmetrically on either side of the leaf stem. You can distinguish the black locust from its close relative the honey locust by the paired spines that black locust twigs have at every leaf scar. In mid to late spring you’ll be able to see the black locust’s small, white flowers, which grow in hanging clusters about five inches long. These flowers are monoecious, meaning that some are male and some are female, and they are pollinated by bees and other insects. The black locust fruit is a light brown, flattened legume. If you split it open, you’ll find 4-10 smooth, red brown seeds. These seeds will be dispersed gradually from autumn to early spring as the fruit hangs on the tree. The black locust also has an alternative form of reproduction. It can produce groves of clones by root suckering and stump sprouting, especially if it is cut or damaged. This, along with its nitrogen fixing capabilities, makes it very useful for land reclamation and erosion control, especially in areas where there has been strip mining. However, it can also easily become invasive, especially in dry and sand prairies, oak savannas, and upland forest edges. Black locust trees grow well in many environments that are hostile to other trees. They are very tolerant to pollution, as well as salt, drought, and poor soils. But in other respects it is a very picky tree. It requires well drained soil or it will not grow well and it is very intolerant of full shade. Young black locusts are very sensitive to competition and do not do well surrounded by other trees. A very important thing for you to know about this tree is that it is TOXIC, just like the Britney Spear’s song. Every part of the tree is poisonous except for the flowers. The bark has especially high levels of toxins, so do not let livestock or small children chew on it because it may cause illness or death. However, the seedpods are edible if cooked because the poison is destroyed by heat. The flowers are also edible and can be made into tea. Black locust honey is also very delicious, and black locust trees are major honey plants in the eastern U.S. and parts of Europe. Some people believe that the black locust has medicinal properties. The Cherokee Indians chewed the root bark to induce vomiting, and the flowers are reputed to cure everything from headaches to nausea. And that concludes this lovely podcast. Just remember, the black locust is an amazing tree, but DON’T LICK IT.

Back to Main