It grows meters high into the sky, blooms in bright white in early summer and produces long, brown fruits. The robinia is characterized by many characteristics. However, special attention is paid to the leaves of the deciduous tree. The heavily feathered appearance, which is typical of butterfly flowers such as black locust, reveals its exotic origins. The false acacia, as the robinia is also known, originally comes from North America. Incidentally, it also owes this nickname to the shape of its leaves. Read more below about what the leaves of the robinia are all about.
What do the leaves of the robinia look like?
The leaves of the robinia are odd-pinnate, green, arranged alternately and have 9-19 individual leaves on a stem. They are 3-4 cm long, have a serrated leaf edge and their stipules are converted into thorns.
Features
- mismatched
- Leaf color: green
- variable
- 9-19 single leaves on one stem
- Length of the individual leaves: 3-4 cm
- sawn leaf edge
- Stipules have turned into thorns
Note: The black locust is not directly related to the mimosa family, which also includes the acacia. Nevertheless, the false acacia is often mentioned. This is due to the external similarity of the robinia leaves and the sharp thorns. The honey that is obtained from the robinia is also marketed commercially under the name acacia honey. Likewise, it is the leaves by which you can distinguish an acacia from a black locust. While the acacia has paired pinnacles, i.e. has an even number of individual leaves on a petiole, the robinia also has a single leaf at the end of the petiole.
Time of leaf emergence
The leaves of the robinia form comparatively late. Leaves often do not emerge until the end of May, at the same time as flowers form.
Caution poisonous
Robinia is classified as extremely toxic. Only the flowers pose no danger. The bark is the most toxic, but the leaves also contain ingredients that should be used with caution. Consumption often even has fatal consequences for animals. But people are also not allowed to eat parts of the tree.
Disease of leaves
The robinia leaf miner butterfly species specifically targets the deciduous tree. The pest lays its eggs on the leaves, which serve as food for the larvae after they hatch. You can recognize an infestation by discoloration of the leaves, which is followed by leaf loss. Despite these symptoms, the pest appears to be quite harmless for the deciduous tree. The decline of robinia due to the robinia leaf miner has not yet been observed.
