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My mate 
and I recently bought a house with a nice stream and woods out back. While we were looking over the property, we discovered this tree, a tree I'd never seen in North America before and which is quite possibly the wickedest-looking plant ever to put down roots.
I had no idea what it was as I stared in awe at its 5-inch long thorns (and longer!). These thorns are incredibly sharp, very hard and cover the entire trunk and the branches like something that would grow along the river Styx. They encrust every inch of the tree's surface in malevolent clusters of aggressive threat. When they are alive, they are a deep red color, and when they dry, they shrivel up at the base and fall off around the tree like perfect little caltrops.
Caltrops, for those unfamiliar with them, are fiendish little contrivances used to deter pursuers. They are a cluster of sharp spikes designed such that no matter how they fall on the ground, one or more of the foot-piercing points will project upwards to wound the unsuspecting feet of the enemy. A handful of these nefarious hazards thrown across one's path provided a powerful deterrent.
These thorns, behave in exactly the same way as caltrops, always landing with one or more (usually more) thorns protruding menacingly upward. A quick look around revealed several more of these trees growing nearby.
I mentioned these trees to a friend and he knew immediately what they were. “Honey Locust”, he said and went on to tell how he'd had their thorns pierce his boots and how the thorns had been thrown back at him by his chainsaw and would embed themselves into his arms and legs.
As an added bonus, the thorns produce an urticating compound that produces an itching or burning sensation wherever they stick you as an added bonus.
Finally, these trees are really good at spreading and springing back up from the roots after being cut down. The more I look around my property, the more of them I find. Of course these things fascinate me, but I am concerned for any dogs or horses I will have on the property.
I will say this, a tight line of these growing somewhere would make a very effective deterrent to intruders!
and I recently bought a house with a nice stream and woods out back. While we were looking over the property, we discovered this tree, a tree I'd never seen in North America before and which is quite possibly the wickedest-looking plant ever to put down roots.I had no idea what it was as I stared in awe at its 5-inch long thorns (and longer!). These thorns are incredibly sharp, very hard and cover the entire trunk and the branches like something that would grow along the river Styx. They encrust every inch of the tree's surface in malevolent clusters of aggressive threat. When they are alive, they are a deep red color, and when they dry, they shrivel up at the base and fall off around the tree like perfect little caltrops.
Caltrops, for those unfamiliar with them, are fiendish little contrivances used to deter pursuers. They are a cluster of sharp spikes designed such that no matter how they fall on the ground, one or more of the foot-piercing points will project upwards to wound the unsuspecting feet of the enemy. A handful of these nefarious hazards thrown across one's path provided a powerful deterrent.
These thorns, behave in exactly the same way as caltrops, always landing with one or more (usually more) thorns protruding menacingly upward. A quick look around revealed several more of these trees growing nearby.
I mentioned these trees to a friend and he knew immediately what they were. “Honey Locust”, he said and went on to tell how he'd had their thorns pierce his boots and how the thorns had been thrown back at him by his chainsaw and would embed themselves into his arms and legs.
As an added bonus, the thorns produce an urticating compound that produces an itching or burning sensation wherever they stick you as an added bonus.
Finally, these trees are really good at spreading and springing back up from the roots after being cut down. The more I look around my property, the more of them I find. Of course these things fascinate me, but I am concerned for any dogs or horses I will have on the property.
I will say this, a tight line of these growing somewhere would make a very effective deterrent to intruders!
Category Photography / Miscellaneous
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1200 x 992px
File Size 300.6 kB
Yow, the only reasonable excuse for landscaping with the Marquis de Sade Tree, would be as a physical security measure. I've seen some thorny, spiny, nasty bushes and hedges used to keep people from climbing fences or trying to get at windows, but to put purposefully put these in a public residential area is just asking for trouble!
Hell, and I thought sand burrs were bad when I was a kid.
Hell, and I thought sand burrs were bad when I was a kid.
Yeah, that's an apt simile.
However, the wood of these trees is valued as it is quite hardy, beautiful and apparently pest and rot resistant. Chaz did a little looking and apparently these trees produce more sugars than a number of other typically considered plants for the production of (get this) sugar-- as it rivals the sugar beet, sugar maple *and* sugar cane for for sheer sugar/plant ratio. A study was being conducted at one point-- right on the site of the Pentagon. Apparently its construction put an end to the study and the wood from the trees was incorporated into the building itself.
The seeds are also sweet and edible, the beans inside the large tamarind-like pods being surrounded by a sweet paste. The trees pods also good for livestock feed and apparently their high sugar content makes them good for ethanol production as well.
Historically, native Americans used the Honey Locust plant as food and a sweetener and it has also been shown to have been used by early colonists in the same manner.
Hell, I am seriously considering making syrup from these trees. I'm fascinated really. Stuff like this is totally my bag baby. =)
For more exciting info: http://www.americanforests.org/prod...../inprofile.php
http://www.essortment.com/honey-loc.....ree-54165.html
However, the wood of these trees is valued as it is quite hardy, beautiful and apparently pest and rot resistant. Chaz did a little looking and apparently these trees produce more sugars than a number of other typically considered plants for the production of (get this) sugar-- as it rivals the sugar beet, sugar maple *and* sugar cane for for sheer sugar/plant ratio. A study was being conducted at one point-- right on the site of the Pentagon. Apparently its construction put an end to the study and the wood from the trees was incorporated into the building itself.
The seeds are also sweet and edible, the beans inside the large tamarind-like pods being surrounded by a sweet paste. The trees pods also good for livestock feed and apparently their high sugar content makes them good for ethanol production as well.
Historically, native Americans used the Honey Locust plant as food and a sweetener and it has also been shown to have been used by early colonists in the same manner.
Hell, I am seriously considering making syrup from these trees. I'm fascinated really. Stuff like this is totally my bag baby. =)
For more exciting info: http://www.americanforests.org/prod...../inprofile.php
http://www.essortment.com/honey-loc.....ree-54165.html
You can order them online, but I think they mostly sell the thornless and seedless varieties because not everyone want killer trees in their yards. ^^
Some places specialize in selling *nasty* plants as a home defense strategy and may sell them. No burglar in his right mind would go for a window with these things growing under or around it. ^^ Here's a notable link: http://zombiehunters.org/wiki/index.....ve_Landscaping I'm not sure if its a serious article given where its posted, but it does show the honey locust being all spiny. =3
Some places specialize in selling *nasty* plants as a home defense strategy and may sell them. No burglar in his right mind would go for a window with these things growing under or around it. ^^ Here's a notable link: http://zombiehunters.org/wiki/index.....ve_Landscaping I'm not sure if its a serious article given where its posted, but it does show the honey locust being all spiny. =3
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