Robinia

Robinia
Robinia pseudoacacia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Tribe:	Robinieae
Genus:	Robinia L.
Species
8–10; see text

Robinia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae, native to North America and northern Mexico. Commonly known as "locusts", they are deciduous trees and shrubs growing 4–25 metres (13–82 ft) tall. The leaves are pinnate with 7–21 oval leaflets. The flowers are white or pink, in usually pendulous racemes. Many species have thorny shoots, and several have sticky hairs on the shoots.

The genus is named after the royal French gardeners Jean Robin and his son Vespasian Robin, who introduced the plant to Europe in 1601.

The number of species is disputed between different authorities, with as few as four recognised by some authors, while others recognise up to ten species. There are also several natural hybrids.

Some species of Robinia are used as food by larvae of Lepidoptera, including the moths Chrysaster ostensackenella, Brown-tail, Buff-tip, The Engrailed, Giant Leopard Moth and Locust Underwing (Euparthenos nubilis).

Toxicity

All species produce in all parts toxic Lectin.

Species

(*: not accepted as distinct by all authorities)

• Robinia boyntonii *
• Robinia elliottii *
• Robinia hartwegii * (R. viscosa var. hartwegii)
• Robinia hispida – bristly locust
• Robinia kelseyi *
• Robinia luxurians *
• Robinia nana *
• Robinia neomexicana – New Mexican locust
• Robinia pseudoacacia – black locust, false Acacia
• Robinia viscosa – clammy locust

Hybrids

• Robinia × ambigua (R. pseudoacacia × R. viscosa) – Idaho locust
• Robinia × holdtii (R. neomexicana × R. pseudoacacia)
• Robinia × longiloba (R. hispida × R. viscosa)
• Robinia × margarettiae (R. hispida × R. pseudoacacia)