honey locust

Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos
Family: Caesalpiniaceae (Cassia)
Branching: Alternate

Honey Locust bears little resemblance to Black Locust in the winter when the compound leaves they have in common have fallen. Natural-growing Honey Locust is extremely thorny, with long dagger-like thorns growing thorns of their own. However, there are thornless varieties that are commonly planted in cities. The same goes for the distinctive pods. The bark is usually unique, being somewhat slatey-gray and peeling to one side.

Lateral bud of Honey Locust. The buds are barely visible

Another view of the lateral bud

They don't usually have this many seed pods. Notice the zig-zag pattern of the twigs...

The pods are quite large (this picture is out of focus)

Thorns on the main trunk sprouting other thorns

Mature bark

The bark splits to one side as it ages