Honey Locust (Gleditsia tricanthos)

NPS Photo/Creative Commons

Honey Locust (Gleditsia tricanthos) normally has many nasty spines, but this is one of the thornless varieties often used as a shade tree. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. This one is male and doesn’t produces the large pods that dry in October and fall throughout the winter. Honey locusts are legumes and are in the same family as peas and beans.