Gleditsia caspica
Caspian honey locust ( Gleditsia caspica )
The Caspian honey locust ( Gleditsia caspica ) is a small tree with pinnate leaves of the subfamily of carob plants ( Caesalpinioideae ). The natural range of the species is in Iran and Azerbaijan. It is rarely planted as an ornamental shrub.
Description
The Caspian honey locust is a up to 12 meters high, broad crown with numerous up to 15 centimeters long, highly branched and flattened spines. The young shoots are bright green and glabrous. The leaves are 15 to 25 inches long and usually simply pinnate. The spindle and the sub-petioles are hairy. Double pinnate leaves have six to eight pinnae first order. The twelve to 24 leaves are shiny, up to 5 inches long, ovate to elliptic, rounded to emarginate with finely notched leaf edge.
The inflorescences are 5-10 centimeters long, thick and hairy grapes. The flowers are almost sessile. They bloom in June and July. When fruits are 20 centimeters long, made thin and saber-like curved pods.
Occurrence and habitat requirements
The natural range is in Azerbaijan and northern Iran on the Caspian Sea and at the lower rivers of the Talysh Mountains, the Ukraine, the species is wild. The Caspian honey locust grows in biodiversity-rich forests, dry forests and steppes on moderately dry to moderately moist, slightly acidic to alkaline, nutrient-rich soils in full sun to light shade locations. The species is tolerant of urban climates, heat- loving and somewhat sensitive to frost.
System
The Caspian honey locust ( Gleditsia caspica ) is a species of the genus Gleditschien ( Gleditsia ). It is assigned in the legume family ( Fabaceae ) of the subfamily of carob plants ( Caesalpinioideae ) and the tribe Caesalpinieae. The species was described in 1809 by René Louiche Desfontaines first scientifically valid. The genus name Gleditsia was chosen by Carl Linnaeus and is reminiscent of the German botanist Johann Gottlieb Gleditsch ( Latinized Gleditsius ) ( 1714-1786 ), Professor and Director of the Botanic Garden Berlin. The specific epithet refers to caspica the distribution area of the Caspian Sea. Alternatively, the name Gleditsia Gleditsia caspia caspica also the variant used.
Use
The Caspian honey locust is very rarely used because of their remarkable fruit and striking autumn color as an ornamental shrub. It is used sometimes as bee pasture.