is honey locust tree a hardwood

Full Answer

What are the uses of a honey locust tree?

Honey locust trees produce high quality and durable wood, which is often used for industry. The wood is also used for rail bearings because of its strong, rot-resistant wood. In ancient times, thorns were used as nails and tree wood was used to make sails in shipbuilding.

Is honey locust wood good for firewood?

In many ways, honey locust is much more similar to the Kentucky coffee tree and the water locust. Generally speaking, honey locust wood can make good firewood. Even though it is not the most popular type to throw in a campfire, you certainly won’t go wrong with it. It has a relatively good BTU rating, and it is incredibly dense.

What type of tree is a honey locust?

The Gleditsia triacanthos, or honey locust as its commonly called, is a decidious tree native to the central United States. It blooms relatively late in the spring and produces yellow leaves in autumn. The tree gets its name from the sweet, sticky pulp it produces.

What is life span of honey locust tree?

The honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos, can reach a height of 20–30 m (66–98 ft), with fast growth, and is relatively short-lived, having a life span of about 120 years. The leaves are pinnately compound on older trees but bipinnately compound on vigorous young trees.

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Are honey locust trees good for anything?

Honey locust wood is very dense, shock resistant, and commonly used in the timber industry. The durable wood is often used for fence posts, railroad ties, pallets, tool handles, and fuel, given that it can be easily split and is rot-resistant.

Is locust a hardwood or softwood?

The black locust tree is a hardwood but it's unique because it grows faster than most softwoods. Even though the tree grows extremely fast, it still produces tough, dense, heavy firewood.

Is locust wood harder than oak?

Black Locust wood is harder than White Oak. We measure hardness of wood with the Janka Hardness scale: the higher the number the tougher the wood. Black Locust wood's Janka hardness scale is 1,700 lbf (7,560 N) compared to White Oak Janka hardness scale of 1,360 (6,000 N).

Can you burn honey locust wood?

Honey locust is an excellent type of firewood that gives off heat in the range of other hardwoods like black locust and beech. This easy-to-split wood produces excellent coals and burns clean with few sparks.

Can you burn locust wood in a wood stove?

Because black locust is one of the densest hardwoods, it creates some of the highest-quality coals. The constant bed of coals is excellent for fires that need to last a long time or to cook over the fire. Be aware it is actually possible to get your fire too hot with black locust firewood for some wood stoves.

Can you burn locust wood in a fireplace?

BTU of Black Locust Firewood Black Locust burns longer than other types of wood as well. It also makes the most excellent coals. Black Locust firewood is perfect for throwing into the fireplace for overnight burning.

What is the strongest wood on earth?

Generally acknowledged as the hardest wood, lignum vitae (Guaiacum sanctum and Guaiacum officinale) measures in at 4,500 pounds-force (lbf) on the Janka scale.

How much is a locust tree worth?

Prices for these products range from $1 – $3 per linear foot for whole posts, and from $1.50 – $3.50/board foot for milled lumber, which is far above the prices for most conventional hardwood lumber.

What's the strongest wood in North America?

Black IronwoodWhat is the hardest wood in North America? Of locally available woods, Black Ironwood is typically the strongest type of wood you can find in America. It's found in Florida and has a 3,660 lbf (16,280 N) Janka rating. Other strong North American woods include species of hickory, maples, oaks, walnuts, and beeches.

How long does it take honey locust wood to dry?

Seasoning honey locust logs can take anywhere from six months to three years depending on the type of firewood being used. Honey locust takes about two years to season completely depending on the temperature, moisture content, and airflow.

How long does it take to season honey locust firewood?

Honey locusts should be seasoned for at least a year (12 months). For better heat output and fire quality, it is recommended to season it for 18-24 months. Firewood is considered to be seasoned if the moisture content is less than 20%.

What is the difference between honey locust and black locust?

Honey locusts can be distinguished from Black Locusts by their longer, widespread thorns and longer seedpods. The bark of the two trees is also quite different in color and shape, and the Black Locust's flowers are large, showy white clusters, while those of the Honey Locust are creamy and insignificant.

Can locust be used for cutting boards?

Honey Locust is a colorful hardwood with a LOT of personality. There is a lot of variation in cutting boards as well as bowls. It's a beautiful charcuterie display, and works as a trivet—with caution. Nothing too hot!

How much is a locust tree worth?

Prices for these products range from $1 – $3 per linear foot for whole posts, and from $1.50 – $3.50/board foot for milled lumber, which is far above the prices for most conventional hardwood lumber.

Do locusts rot wood?

Nothing beats Black Locust for sustainability and durability. The wood is naturally rot-, decay-, mildew-, and insect-resistant — the perfect choice for outdoor projects in all climates.

Can you turn locust wood?

0:201:43Black Locust - Quick Turning Tips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt turns really well again sharp tools fast fast speed you can turn a piece out of a green piece ofMoreIt turns really well again sharp tools fast fast speed you can turn a piece out of a green piece of black locust and and finish it all the way and and there's very very little movement.

Is honey locust wood good for anything?

The Osage Indians traditionally used honey locust wood to make bows. Today, woodworkers make the wood into crossties , poles , fence rails , flooring , furniture, millwork, and veneer .

Is Honey Locust Hardwood or Softwood?

The honey locust tree is hardwood. I can equate its mechanical properties to red oak wood. This wood has a density of about 670 kilograms per cubic meter.

What Grain and Color is Honey Locust Wood?

The wood is known for its reddish-brown color. The heartwood of honey locust trees has a medium to a light brown that appears reddish.

How Does Honey Locust Wood Dry?

Some honey locust wood pieces are large. These require splitting for efficient drying. Perfect drying takes up to a year when you have the size in check.

Can You Burn Honey Locust Wood?

Honey locust wood is excellent for burning. Just be careful to avoid the thorns, and you’ll be fine.

Is Honey Locust Wood Allergenic or Toxic?

Except for the standard safety precautions you should take when working with wood, there are no health risks associated with honey locust wood.

How Sustainable is Honey Locust Wood?

Honey locust wood is not an endangered species. Moreover, it is not in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

What is a thorny locust?

Gleditsia. Species: G. triacanthos. Binomial name. Gleditsia triacanthos. L. Native range. The honey locust ( Gleditsia triacanthos ), also known as the thorny locust or thorny honeylocust, is a deciduous tree in the family Fabaceae, native to central North America where it is mostly found in the moist soil of river valleys.

How tall is a honey locust?

The honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos, can reach a height of 20–30 m (66–98 ft). They exhibit fast growth, but live a medium-long life span of about 120 years. The leaves are pinnately compound on older trees but bipinnately compound on vigorous young trees. The leaflets are 1.5–2.5 cm (0.6–1 in) (smaller on bipinnate leaves) and bright green.

How long are honey locust thorns?

Honey locusts commonly have thorns 3–10 cm (1.2–3.9 in) long growing out of the branches, some reaching lengths over 20 cm (8 in); these may be single, or branched into several points, and commonly form dense clusters.

What color are ripe beans?

The long pods, which eventually dry and ripen to brown or maroon, are surrounded in a tough, leathery skin that adheres strongly to the pulp within. The pulp—bright green in unripe pods—is strongly sweet, crisp and succulent in ripe pods. Dark brown tannin-rich beans are found in slots within the pulp.

What are the phytochemicals found in honey locusts?

In research using databases, more than 60 phytochemicals were identified from honey locust, including polyphenols, triterpenes, sterols, and saponins, with in vitro studies assessing for possible biological activity.

Does Gleditsia fix nitrogen?

The ability of Gleditsia to fix nitrogen is disputed. Many scientific sources state that Gleditsia does not fix nitrogen. Some support this statement with the fact that Gleditsia does not form root nodules with symbiotic bacteria, the assumption being that without nodulation, no nitrogen fixation can occur.

Do legumes need nitrogen fixation?

There are anatomical, ecological, and taxonomic indications of nitrogen fixation in non-nodulating legumes. Both nodulating and non-nodulating species have been observed to grow well in nitrogen-poor soil with non-nodulating legumes even dominating some sites.

Summary

Beneath the thorns of wild honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos L.) lies a beautiful coarse-grained, pink wood much like red oak. Since sawlog quality trees are not abundant, the species is not often traded in the wholesale market, but sooner or later, every hardwood sawmill will likely produce some honeylocust lumber.

History

Hard thorns of younger trees were used as nails and the wood was used to make treenails for shipbuilding.

Color & Texture

The wood is ring porous. The large earlywood pores abruptly change to small diameter thick walled cells. As a result, the wood has a grain pattern about like red oak. Some of the pores will be filled with dark inclusions, but usually not to the extent that a dark objectionable streak develops. Unfinished heartwood is pink. Sapwood is white.

Anatomical and Microscopy

Ring-porous; 3-5 rows of large to very large earlywood pores, medium to small latewood pores commonly arranged in tangential bands; tyloses absent, other reddish heartwood deposits occasionally present; growth rings distinct; medium to wide rays visible without lens, wide spacing; parenchyma banded, parenchyma vasicentric, and latewood is commonly lozenge and confluent..

Products

Used as pallets or blocking due to lack of an established market. Higher value uses are for custom furniture, cabinets, millwork, and flooring. Honeylocust is a beautiful wood that deserves more attention.

What is honey locust lumber?

Honey Locust Lumber. Honey Locust ( Gleditsia triacanthos) is a small to medium size tree that originated in North America. Honey Locust wood has little sapwood and heartwood which is honey brown in color and does not support the darker grain color found in Black Locust. Honey Locust lumber has a straight grain with a coarse texture.

Is honey locust the same as red oak?

Therefore, could be used as a substitute for many of the same applications as Red Oak, which includes cabinet making, furniture, millwork, molding and other general constructions.

And What Kind Of Wood Absolutely Should Not Be Burned In A Fireplace?

Any wood that comes from a poisonous tree, such as the Yew tree, should not make its way into your fireplace.

Good To Know! So Where Does That Place Honey Locust Wood? Is It Safe To Burn?

It absolutely is. This tree is non-toxic, and it doesn’t contain much sap either.

And How Long Does It Take To Season Honey Locust Wood?

It takes around six to twelve months to season wood, depending on when it was logged.

What is the lifespan of a locust tree?

The average lifespan of the locust tree is around 100 years. The honey locust tree grows very fast, but lives for about 120 years. The black locust tree has a lesser life span of around 100 years.

Do locust trees have fruit?

Botanically speaking, the locust trees do have fruits in the form of pods. Locust tree is a leguminous tree that always has fruit in the form of seed pods. It is not a fruit conforming to the common understanding of fruit, but the pod is the fruit of the locust tree.

How big are honey locust pods?

The pods of the tree are largest in size ranging from 10 inches to 18 inches. Being that long and flat, often, the seed pods also get twisted. The tree derives its name, honey locust tree, because of the sweet taste of these pods. The USDA suggests zone 4 through 9 as being the most suitable for this species.

How big do locust trees get?

It is the largest of the locust tree variety, which can go up to 80 feet in height. The flowers are greenish-yellow in color and not so attractive as other locust trees. The flowers bloom in the late spring and early summer. It has the biggest and the fiercest of thorns. They come in branches and can be 20 inches long. The pods of the tree are largest in size ranging from 10 inches to 18 inches. Being that long and flat, often, the seed pods also get twisted. The tree derives its name, honey locust tree, because of the sweet taste of these pods. The USDA suggests zone 4 through 9 as being the most suitable for this species.

What tree has sharp thorns?

The locust tree grows very long and has sharp thorns. These thorns are sturdy and were used as nails a long time back. These thorns are a real hazard and deterrent.

What are the characteristics of a locust tree?

The most prominent identification feature of a locust tree is its unique thorns, the pods, the sweetly fragrant flowers, and the leaves. In the spring, you can see sweet fragrant pea-shaped flowers hanging in clusters all over the tree. The flowers are generally white or pink in color.

Why do locust trees die?

The locust tree dies prematurely because of pests and diseases like a canker, leaf miner, etc. The locust trees are susceptible to lots of disease and attack by the pest. Some of the most common reasons for the premature death of the Locust trees are;

How many species of locusts are there in the genus Robinia?

While the genus Gleditsia has 12 species, there are around ten species in the genus Robinia. The most popular among them are Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) and Gleditsia triacanthos (honey locust). Both are deciduous, and are grown as landscape trees. You may also come across different locust cultivars.

What are the thorns on a honey locust tree?

Honey locusts carry thorns on their branches, and at the base of leaves. These thorns are longer (around 3 to 10 cm); and are seen in dense clusters. The young and tender thorns are green and soft. As they age, the thorns turn harder and reddish brown. Fully mature thorns are brittle, and are usually ash gray in color. The tree is also known as thorny locust.

What are the characteristics of a black locust tree?

One of the characteristic features of this tree is the short, prickly thorns that are located at the base of the leaves. The thorns of black locust trees are short, when compared to that of honey locusts.

Why is honey locust called honey locust?

The name may be derived from the sweetness of the pulp that is also used for making beer. Its timber is highly valued for making furniture, as it is hard and durable. The seeds pods are used as fodder for livestock. Like black locust, different parts of the honey locust tree are also used for medicinal purposes.

What do honey locusts produce?

The female honey locust trees produce long, flat and twisted fruits (or seed pods). The pale green seed pods turn reddish-brown and black, when they mature. As they ripen, the seed pods produce a strong smell. The sticky pulp inside the pods are edible. These seed pods fall off the tree during winter.

What is the name of the tree that splits rails?

As a young man, President Abraham Lincoln used to split rails from locust trees. Thus he earned the nickname Rail Splitter. Locusts are fast-growing, hardy trees that belong to the pea family Fabaceae or Leguminosae. Most of the locust species are classified into two genera – Gleditsia and Robinia.

How tall is a black locust tree?

It can grow to a height of around 25 meters and a diameter of around one meter. You may come across some of the very old black locust trees that have a height of around 50 meters and a diameter of 1.5 meters.

What is the name of the Sunburst tree?

One such well-behaved cultivar is usually known by its registered trademark name, Sunburst®. The official cultivar name is Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Suncole'; it was created through selective manipulation of a thornless variation of the native species. 'Suncole' has a pyramidal shape and is somewhat shorter than the native species, growing to about 40 feet vs. the 80 feet of the native tree. The podless/seedless characteristic derives from the fact that commercially offered trees are typically male cultivars.

How tall does Moraine grow?

inermis ‘Moraine’): This is a seedless male cultivar has a more rounded head with small dark green leaves that turns golden yellow in fall. It grows up to 50 feet tall.

How hot does it have to be for a honey locust to grow?

The honey locust is able to grow in a variety of climate conditions, but it will perish if exposed to temperatures below minus 33 degrees Fahrenheit.

What are honey locusts susceptible to?

Honey locusts are somewhat susceptible to a variety of insect pests, including mites and webworms. 3 Pests are less likely to be serious problems if you keep the trees in good condition with adequate watering and by regularly removing dead and damaged branches. They can also be attacked by diseases such as cankers and root collar rot. 1

What is a honey locust?

Honey locust is a member of the Fabaceae family (also known as the pea family), along with well-known landscape plants like lupine and wisteria. The compound leaves are fern-like, with a fine texture, and the branching pattern is relatively open and airy.

What are the pests that can be found in honey locusts?

Honey locusts are somewhat susceptible to a variety of insect pests, including spider mites, gall midges, and webworms. Pests can be treated with organic sprays and are less likely to be serious problems if you keep the trees in good condition with adequate watering and regularly removing dead and damaged branches.

How to keep mowers away from tree trunk?

Applying a ring of mulch such as shredded wood or bark chips around the base of the tree is a good idea, as it will keep mowers away from the trunk. Do not let mulch come in contact with the trunk because doing so can damage the bark and introduce diseases and pests. Be careful not to create a mulch volcano .

Overview

Description

Cultivation and history

Uses

Nitrogen fixation

Research

Further reading

External links