"King of Thorns"
This is a very thorny tree, found in the dryer portions of the park. The primary thorns even have secondary thorns growing from them. The name Honey Locus comes from the sweet pump surrounding the seeds in the seed pods. Native Americans used the seed pods as a sweetener. The wood is very hard and durable and has been used for furniture and fence posts. The thorns have even been used as nails and pins. Birds like to nest and hang out among the thorns to help deter predators.
The scientific name is Gleditsia triacanthos.
Cottonwood Tree
Native Range Map
