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Gleditsia aquatica - Marshall.

Common Name Water Locust
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rich lands of river valleys that are subject to inundation, often for a considerable part of the year[82, 229].
Range South-eastern N. America - N. Carolina to Florida, west to Texas, Indiana and Arkansas.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Wet Soil Full sun
Gleditsia aquatica Water Locust


USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Gleditsia aquatica Water Locust
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rob-young

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Gleditsia aquatica is a deciduous Tree growing to 12 m (39ft 4in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in leaf from June to October, in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from October to December. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Secondary; Sunny Edge; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Soil stabilization  Wood

Having an extensive root system, it is planted for stabilizing wet banks and marshes[200]. Wood - heavy, very hard, strong, durable in contact with the soil, coarse-grained[82, 229]. It weighs 46lb per cubic foot[235]. The wood is extremely durable and is used primarily for making fence posts[229].

Special Uses

Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in a loamy soil, requiring a sunny position[11]. Succeeds in most soils[200]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[200]. Rather tender when young, it grows best in S. Britain[11]. A slow-growing tree[11], it is growing well at the Hillier Arboretum in Hampshire where a tree was 7 metres tall and 8 metres wide in 1993[K]. Trees have a light canopy, they come into leaf late in the spring and drop their leaves in early autumn[200] making them an excellent top storey tree in a woodland garden. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in spring in a greenhouse[78]. The seed should have swollen up, in which case it can be sown, if it has not swollen then soak it for another 24 hours in warm water. If this does not work then file away some of the seed coat but be careful not to damage the embryo[78]. Further soaking should then cause the seed to swell. One it has swollen, the seed should germinate within 2 - 4 weeks at 20°c. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual deep pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Give the plants some protection from the cold for their first few winters outdoors.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Indiana (south), Illinois (south), Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida (north & central), Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Gleditsia caspicaCaspian LocustTree12.0 6-8 MLMHNDM102
Gleditsia japonica Tree20.0 5-9 MLMHNDM313
Gleditsia koraiensisKorean Honey LocustTree20.0 -  LMHNDM222
Gleditsia macracantha Tree18.0 5-9 MLMHNDM012
Gleditsia sinensisLocustTree12.0 8-9 MLMHNDM332
Gleditsia triacanthosHoney LocustTree20.0 4-8 MLMHNDM322

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Marshall.

Botanical References

1182200

Links / References

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