gleditschia

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A genus of leguminous thorny trees, with abruptly once or twice pinnate leaves, inconspicuous greenish and polygamous flowers, and flat pods. There are 5 or 6 species, of North America, temperate Asia, and the mountains of Africa. The honey-locust, or three-thorned acacia, G. triacanthos, of the United States, is a large tree, widely cultivated for shade and as a hedge-plant. It has very long, many-seeded pods, which are filled with a sweet pulp between the seeds. The wood is hard, heavy, strong, and durable. The water-locust, G. monosperma, the other North American species, is found in swamps of the eastern United States. It is a smaller tree, with more slender thorns, and a short one-seeded pod without pulp.