Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_1290.JPG-06-02-2022
Flower name (scientific): Robinia pseudoacacia Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) roh-BIN-ee-ah soo-doh-ah-KAY-see-ah
Flower name (common): Black Locust
Family name (common): Pea
Family name (scientific): Fabaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: Named for the French herbalist Jean Robin (1550 – 1629).
    Specific epithet: From Latin meaning false acacia. The latter term deriving from Greek akis meaning sharp point, which refers to the thorns that are present.
Common name origin: One use of the term locust, now historical, refers to the edible fruit of the carob tree Ceratonia siliqua, and supposedly having a resemblance to the edible locusts. The brownish-black colored pods of Robinia pseudoacacia have some similarity to those of Ceratonia siliqua, but they are toxic.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.7 to 1.0 inches (1.8 to 2.5 cm)
     Petal count: 5
     Color: white
     Other: flower arrangement, Raceme
Plant description:
     Size: 360 to 720 inches (9 to 18 m)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is compound
     Size: Compound leaves up to 15 to 35 cm long. Leaflets up to 5 to 6 cm long and 2 cm wide.
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: C leaf, odd-pinnate (with typically 7 to 19 leaflets), leaflet ovate to elliptic (MB), oblong or oblong-elliptic (IL)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, invasive
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): June to June
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Forests, disturbed areas, roadsides, streambanks, sun.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any):
Ethnobotany: The Menominee employed the bark of this species as a flavor agent for other medicines (Smith, p. 40, 1923).
Latitude: 44.796902
Longitude: -91.513952
Altitude: 2.75
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Waukesha, Waushara, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY)
In Canada: (BC, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC)
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na