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Gledistia (after Gottlieb Gleditsch, director of the botanic garden at Berlin; died 1780). Syn. Gledistichia. Leguminosas. Honey Locust. Ornamental trees grown chiefly for their handsome finely divided foliage; also the large conspicuous pods and the branched spines are attractive.

Gledistia (after Gottlieb Gleditsch, director of the botanic garden at Berlin; died 1780). Syn. Gledistichia. Leguminosas. Honey Locust. Ornamental trees grown chiefly for their handsome finely divided foliage; also the large conspicuous pods and the branched spines are attractive.

The honey locusts are large trees with spreading branches forming a broad graceful rather loose head, with finely pinnate foliage, generally light green and turning clear yellow in fall; the greenish flowers appearing in racemes early in summer are inconspicuous, but the large, flat pods are ornamental and the fertile tree is therefore to be preferred for planting. G. triacanthos is a useful native and is hardy North; G. japonica is almost hardy North, while G. delavayi and G. sinensis are tender. They are very valuable trees for park planting and for avenues, and make almost impenetrable hedges if planted thickly and pruned severely. The coarse-grained wood is durable and strong. The pulp of the pods of G. triacanthos is sweet when fresh, hence the name honey locust, but becomes bitter at length; that of G. japonica is used in Japan and that of G. sinensis and G. macracantha in China as a substitute for soap. The gleditsias are of vigorous growth and thrive in almost any soil; they stand drought well. Propagation is by seeds sown in spring about 1 inch deep; they should be soaked in hot water before being sown; varieties and rare kinds are sometimes grafted on seedlings of G. triacanthos in spring.

The honey locusts are large trees with spreading branches forming a broad graceful rather loose head, with finely pinnate foliage, generally light green and turning clear yellow in fall; the greenish flowers appearing in racemes early in summer are inconspicuous, but the large, flat pods are ornamental and the fertile tree is therefore to be preferred for planting. G. triacanthos is a useful native and is hardy North; G. japonica is almost hardy North, while G. delavayi and G. sinensis are tender. They are very valuable trees for park planting and for avenues, and make almost impenetrable hedges if planted thickly and pruned severely. The coarse-grained wood is durable and strong. The pulp of the pods of G. triacanthos is sweet when fresh, hence the name honey locust, but becomes bitter at length; that of G. japonica is used in Japan and that of G. sinensis and G. macracantha in China as a substitute for soap. The gleditsias are of vigorous growth and thrive in almost any soil; they stand drought well. Propagation is by seeds sown in spring about 1 inch deep; they should be soaked in hot water before being sown; varieties and rare kinds are sometimes grafted on seedlings of G. triacanthos in spring.

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==Species==

==Species==

<!-- This section should be renamed Cultivars if it appears on a page for a species (rather than genus), or perhaps Varieties if there is a mix of cultivars, species, hybrids, etc    -->

G. amorphoides, Taub. (Garugandra amorphoidea, Griaeb.). Tree, to 50 ft,, very spiny: lfts. obliquely ovate to linear-oblong, ½ -l in. long: Be. in racemes: pod oblong, falcate, 3-4 in. long, 1 in. broad. ½ in. thick. Argentina, Bolivia. Cult, in Calif. — G. Hems!. Tree with large spines: ;fts. very oblique, oblong, crenate, leathery, shining: pod with coriaceous walls, 4-5 in. long. S. China. — G. caspica Desf. (G. horrida var. caspica, Schncid.). Allied to G. japonica. Lvs. pinnate with 12- 20 ovate, crenulate lfts to bipinnate with 6-8 pinnae: pod thin, pulpy, to 12 in. long.—G. ferox, Deaf. Allied to G. sinensis. Spines very .stout: lvs. 16-30-foliolate: lfts. oblong-ovate to oblong-lanceolate, crenate, ½ -l ½ in. long: pod to 10 in. long. China. Most plants cult, under this name seem to belong to G. japonica.—G. fontanesii, Spach (syn. G. macracantha).—G. heterophylla, Bunge. Allied to G. aquatica: lfts. obliquely obovate, pubescent below, ½ - ¾ in. long: pod oval, 2-3-seeded, slender- stalked, about 1 in. long. N. China. Probably quite hardy.—G. macrantha. Desf. Allied to G. sinensis. Spines and lfts. Generally larger: infl. paniculate; ovary pubescent; pod 4-6 in. long, ¾ in. broad, often almost cylindrical. China.-G. officinalis, Hemal. Allied to G. sinensis. Spiny tree, to 40 ft.: lfts. 12-20, obliquely elliptic to elliptic-oblong, arutish, to 3 ½ in. long: pod oblong, thick, falcate, 3-4 in. long and little over ½ in. broad. Cent. China.—G. texana, Sarg. Allied to G. triacanthos. lvs. 12-22- foliolate, often bipinnate: pod narrow-oblong, straight, 4-5 in. long. Texas. 8.8.13:627. Possibly hybrid of G. aquatica and G. triacanthos. {{SCH}}

==Gallery==

==Gallery==