Japanese locust
Gleditsia japonica

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It grows 21 m tall. It spreads to 10 m wide. It has thorns which are branched. The fruit are pods. They can be 30 cm long. They often become twisted at maturity. The seeds are 9-10 mm long by 5-7 mm wide.

There are about 14 Gleditsia species. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on sunny slopes and near streams between 100-2,500 m above sea level in China. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Japan, Korea

How it is used for food

The seeds roasted, and the husks removed then the seeds are soaked until soft and boiled and eaten with sugar. The leaves of the plant are also eaten. The flesh inside the seedpod is eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. Seeds should be soaked for 24 hours before planting.

Its other names

Local names

Korean honey locust, Shan zao jia, Tsao La

Synonyms

Caesalpiniodes japonicum (Miq.) Kuntze; Fagara horrida Thunb.; Gleditsia coccinea Hort. ex Koehne; Gleditsia horrida (Thunb.) Makino; Gleditsia horrida var. inermis Nakai; Gleditsia japonica f. inarmata Nakai; Gleditsia japonica f. inermis Mayr; Gleditsia japonica var. inermis Nakai; Gleditsia japonica var. japonica; Gleditsia japonica var. koraiensis Nakai; Gleditsia japonica var. purpurea Rehder; Gleditsia koraiensis T.Mori; Gleditsia melanacantha T.Tang & Wang; Gleditsia melanacantha Tang & F.T. Wang;