by DaySounds © 2013-15
Honey Locust/ Acacia Americana/ Three-thorned Acacia (Gleditsia triacanthos)
The flowers are white, arranged in racemes, and edible. The pods are about 4-15 inches
long. When they drop in the Fall, they are still unopened. Because these pods do not
open by themselves to release their seeds, they must rely upon wild animals to eat the
pods and spread their seeds. The unripe pods are edible (raw or cooked), and have a
high content of sugar; however, the ripen pods are inedible if eaten raw. The seeds are
edible. They can be eaten raw from unripe pods, or soaked overnight and boiled like
beans from ripe pods--they can also be ground into flour or roasted like coffee. The sharp
thorns can be used as pins, nails, and for animal traps, among other things.
A similar tree, native to and abundant in Mediterranean countries is the Carob tree/
Algarrobo (Ceratonia siliqua). Like the honey locust, it produces edible flowers, seeds,
and pods, but the pods are a little darker, thicker, wider, and edible raw--even when ripe.
©DaySounds
PO Box 746497
Arvada, CO 80006
USA