Robinia

Fabaceae / Robinia pseudoacacia – robinia, black locust

Sometimes scientific names just aren’t nice at all. Calling a tree pseudoacacia is like calling it a fake rip-off of the acacia tree. It’s a perfectly beautiful tree in its own right and it definitely doesn’t deserve this connotation to its name. The “real” acacia is the one we know from the African savanne and the main species representing the acacia family. The funny thing is that this “acacia” was recently found to be unrelated to the acacia family, by analyzing its DNA. So who’s the “pseudo” now? So from here on I will simply refer to it as Robinia.

Robinia does not flower every year, like the one I captured, but when they do they are abundant with clusters of white flowers. These will form long brown peas that dangle from the twigs. Beautiful for sure, but the compound leaves themselves are also very attractive, dangling down in a waterfall fashion.

Robinia is a tree from the pea family, with its roots in the Eastern United States. It’s found its way to other temperate places across the globe. It’s a strong grower – sometimes a bit too strong. It can multiply itself through root suckers and this can be very invasive. But on the right spot, the beauty of this tree is well worth the trouble.