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What kind of tree is this?
Nov. 9th, 2014 03:43 pmBoston area
Honey locusts (Gleditsia tricanthos).
The tree is of medium tree height, has branches, and sports delicate little leaves that turn a dazzling shade of yellow in the fall. Honey locusts survive well in cities and disturbed areas (most trees can’t survive the bleak nutritional environment or pollution) and so have been cultivated for human use over time.
Badass thorns.
Here is the puzzle: honey locusts have these large gooey bean pods that are too cumbersome for any animal (except horses) to eat. Also, the tree has these badass thorns clusters. What’s the point in having big seeds that nobody will eat (and propagate)? Any who is the honey locust trying to fend off with the big thorns?
Elephants. Actually, mastodons (the hairy version).
That’s right. Until about 11,000 years ago, mastodons roamed the entire continent. It is likely that these plant-eaters munched on the pods of the honey locust for the sugary goo inside then pooped seeds all over the place. The thorns deterred mastodons from eating other parts of the tree (like the bark – kind of important for the tree to live).
http://bucultureshock.com/imagination-great-beasts-of-boston-part-4-of-4/
Honey locusts (Gleditsia tricanthos).
The tree is of medium tree height, has branches, and sports delicate little leaves that turn a dazzling shade of yellow in the fall. Honey locusts survive well in cities and disturbed areas (most trees can’t survive the bleak nutritional environment or pollution) and so have been cultivated for human use over time.
Badass thorns.
Here is the puzzle: honey locusts have these large gooey bean pods that are too cumbersome for any animal (except horses) to eat. Also, the tree has these badass thorns clusters. What’s the point in having big seeds that nobody will eat (and propagate)? Any who is the honey locust trying to fend off with the big thorns?
Elephants. Actually, mastodons (the hairy version).
That’s right. Until about 11,000 years ago, mastodons roamed the entire continent. It is likely that these plant-eaters munched on the pods of the honey locust for the sugary goo inside then pooped seeds all over the place. The thorns deterred mastodons from eating other parts of the tree (like the bark – kind of important for the tree to live).
http://bucultureshock.com/imagination-great-beasts-of-boston-part-4-of-4/
