Tree ID?

[EddieWalker]

My brother asked me to post this picture and see if somebody can ID what type of tree it is. He has Mesquite trees on his land, which have the straight barbs on them. These trees have multiple barbs that shoot off from the main one.

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[jayste]

Eddie, it looks a lot like a Black Locust barb but the bark on the tree almost looks too smooth. Of course, all the ones I know of and have seen were older trees.

 

[mbosma]

It is a honey locust tree. The black locust have small barbs at the base of the leaves. The honey locust have them covering the trunk and some limbs. The larger trees will grow spikes up to 16" (I've got a few) and puncture wounds will get infected. If you rip one out, make sure you come back and kill any sprouts the next year. They are very hard to kill and will spread from tiny roots.

Generations ago they used to use the spikes as nails. The wood does burn great though. Very hard/heavy and not too much ash. If you split enough of it, you'll see spikes growing in the middle of the tree. Make sure you split it when it's green.

Here is a picture of an 18" or so honey locust on my property. The older they get, the bark will get darker. The saplings are pretty smooth and gray.

By the way, that's a poison ivy vine growing up the left side. This tree screams stay away!

 

[MMagis]

Definitely not a black locust. It does look similar to a honey locust, but I don’t know if you have them down south or not. However, that bark doesn’t look like what I see around here. A larger scale picture may help.

 

[EddieWalker]

It is a honey locust tree.

Thank you. I sent him the name of it and will let him look it up. From what you said and what I saw, that sure looks like it.

Eddie