The honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) is also known as thorny locust – and for good reason, because this tree can produce branched clusters of huge spikes, some growing to 20 cm (8 in) long. These spikes are actually modified branches and may even sprout leaves.
This quite large tree, growing up to 20-30m (65-100ft) high, is native to central North America, spread out across the US, but concentrated mostly in southern Illinois and Indiana, favouring the moist soil of river valleys and wetlands. It’s also a highly invasive species in places like Australia.
It’s widely believed that this species evolved its formidable thorns as a protection tactic all the way back in the Pleistocene, when megafauna such as mastodons would have been browsing on the trees. Although the threat is long gone, the honey locust doesn’t seem to have dropped the defences just yet.
But the thorns aren’t enough to protect the tree from the most formidable enemy - humans. Wood from the honey locust is very dense and shock resistant, so it’s popular in the timber industry, widely used as fence posts, railroad ties, furniture, warehouse or shipping pallets, tool handles and fuel.
There are no widely reported cases of people being injured by this species, perhaps because no one’s been brave (or stupid) enough to try and climb one.
Not only can the thorns cause severe puncture wounds, but they can also lead to painful infections due to bacteria and organic debris on the spikes.
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Top image credit: Katsiaryna Yeudakimava/Getty Images
