False acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) is a highly poisonous deciduous tree of the family Leguminosae, native to North America, with stout paired spines on the branches. The bark is brown at first, turning a grey colour later, furrowed and twisted. The leaves are alternate, bluish-green beneath, and odd pinnate with between seven and fifteen oval, stalked, entire leaflets with small spines at their tips. The flowers are fragrant, white in colour and arranged in pendulous racemes which grow from the leaf axils of young shoots. The fruit is a smooth, flat, brown coloured pod with black or dark brown seeds. False acacia was introduced into France in the 17th century, being grown as an ornamental tree, especially in towns. It spreads aggressively by way of suckers, and is sometimes planted to form thickets. The timber is hard and close-grained, formerly used for ship building, now used for floors and turned objects. Research False Acacia
Robinia is a genus of trees of the family Leguminosae. The genus is named after Jean and Vespasien Robin who were royal gardeners in Paris in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. They have pink or white flowers borne in pendulous racemes and pinnate leaves. The chief species is the American locust tree which yields a valuable hard wood. The false acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) is often planted in Europe. Research Robinia
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Abbreviations
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