Water locust facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Water locust |
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Gleditsia
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G. aquatica
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| Gleditsia aquatica Marshall
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The Gleditsia aquatica, often called water locust or swamp locust, is a tree. It gets its common names because it grows in wet places. You can find it in river swamps and along the edges of muddy areas. This tree is native to the southeastern United States and nearby regions.
What the Water Locust Looks Like
The water locust tree often grows quite tall. It can reach heights of 50 to 60 feet (about 15 to 18 meters). This tree usually lives in swamps. It prefers places where it gets some sunlight, but not full sun.
Like other plants in its family, the Fabaceae (which includes peas and beans), it produces a flat seed pod. This pod is called a legume. Unlike many other plants in its family, these pods usually hold only one seed.
The leaves of the water locust are typically "simple-compounded." This means each leaf is made up of many smaller leaflets. Sometimes, its leaves can look a bit like those of the Acacia tree.
Where the Water Locust Lives
This swamp tree mainly grows in the southern parts of the United States. It is native to the Southeast, starting from Florida. Its range goes west to eastern Texas and north to Illinois. You can also find it as far north as Ohio, southern New York, and southwestern Connecticut. The tree is quite tough and can survive in plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. This means it can handle certain cold temperatures.
