Gleditsia triacanthos L.

Spice Flower-leaves detail In the University

Family: LEGUMINOSAE

Genus: Gleditsia

Catalan common name: Acàcia de tres punxes.

Spanish common name: Acacia de tres espinas. Acacia de tres puas. Acacia negra.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Lleida.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): North American

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Macrophanerophyte.

Habitats: Garden plants.

Description: A tree 12-15m in height; it has leaves with a pubescent rachis. These pinnate leaves have 10-15 pairs of oblong-lanceolate leaflets, 2-3.5cm in length, are slightly crenate, serrate, with a pubescent central vein on the lower side. The bi-pinnate leaves have with 4-7 pairs of pinnae. The thorns are simple or branched, 6-10cm long, and grow on the trunk and the main branches. The greenish-white, shortly pedicellate flowers grow in racemes that are 5-7 cm long. The pod is 30-45cm long.

Observations: Grown as an ornamental plant and for the formation of thorny hedges.