Looking at it from a distance, you could almost think that there were overbrown bananas hanging on the black locust tree. Only upon closer inspection does it become apparent that they are red-brown pods that contain small seeds. To do this, the fruits first have to fall to the ground because they hang very high in the deciduous tree. Would you like to find out more about the fruits of the black locust? Then you've come to the right place.
What do the fruits of the robinia look like and are they poisonous?
The fruits of the robinia are reddish-brown, flat pods up to 10 cm long, which contain around four to twelve hard-shelled, brown seeds. The fruits and seeds are poisonous to humans and animals and cause serious gastrointestinal problems.
General
The black locust bears long, brown legumes that are located high up due to their high growth. In contrast to other deciduous trees, the robinia does not shed its fruit before the onset of winter. Even in the cold season, the pods hang on the bare branches. Botanists therefore refer to the robinia as a “winter resister”.
Appearance of fruits
You can quickly recognize the fruits of the robinia tree by their somewhat unusual appearance. It is difficult to deny that these are legumes due to their similarity to pea pods. They have the following characteristics:
- reddish, brown colored
- Pods up to 10 cm long
- flat
- parchment-like, leathery (crumbles in the hands)
- often ripped open on the side when they fall to the ground
The seeds
The robinia pods contain around four to twelve seeds. In winter the pods often split open, causing the individual seeds to fall to the ground.
Seed properties
- 6-7 mm long
- Ripe in September
- brown
- hard-shelled
- smooth
- small dents between the individual seeds
Dissemination
Since the seeds of the robinia hang high up and are inaccessible to many animals, the wind is the main disperser. However, the fruits are comparatively heavy and do not travel a long distance. Often the distance is not even 100 meters. Nevertheless, the black locust has developed a strategy to spread successfully:
- the seeds can germinate for a very long time (up to 30 years)
- the robinia is already blooming in its sixth year
- rapid growth in new locations
Caution poisonous
Both the seeds and the fruits are inedible for humans and animals. The toxicity of robinia is classified as very high. Consumption causes serious gastrointestinal problems such as colic or cramps.
