Robinia pseudoacacia - Black Locust Tree

Black Locust Tree is a deciduous tree that grows to 14-25 m tall, with a trunk up to 0.8 m diameter, with thick, deeply furrowed blackish bark. The leaves are 10-25 cm long, pinnate with 9-19 oval leaflets, 2-5 cm long and 1.5-3 cm broad. Leaflets are rounded at both the ends and notched at the tip. Each leaf usually has a pair of short thorns at the base, 1-2 mm long or absent on adult crown shoots, up to 2 cm long on vigorous young plants. The intensely fragrant flowers are white, borne in pendulous racemes 8-20 cm long, and are considered edible. The fruit is a legume 5-10 cm long, containing 4-10 seeds. The species name pseudoacacia means false acacia. The name comes from its resemblance to another tree called Locust tree. The tree is widespread in Kashmir, and in the spring season bees collect nectar from its fragrant flowers. The honey created from this nectar, called Kashmiri kikar honey, has a distinct flavor, and is much sought after. Black locust tree is native to USA, widely naturalized in Western Himalaya.