Wednesday, June 6, 2012

The Honey Locust Thorn Tree



HONEY LOCUST
Common Thorn Tree
Species: Gleditsia triacanthos
Risk: Approach with Caution, Partially Edible


The Honey Locust is a common sight in Missouri. This tree should be passed carefully as its entire body, from the trunk to the tips of its branches, is covered in thorns. These thorns can grow anywhere from three to eight inches long and often grow in clusters. Neither the tree nor its thorns carry any harmful poison or toxin.  




The leaves of the Honey Locust are doubly compound, meaning they sprout off of a single stem in parallel leaflets. The branches on which they sprout are also covered in thorns. The leaves are safe to touch, although you risk a few pokes should you feel the need to do so. 



The only edible part of this tree is the pulp inside the seed pods. The pods fully mature in early Fall. When ripe, the long seed pods become dark brown and begin falling from the tree. Although the seed pods contain edible pulp, these should only be gathered when absolutely necessary.


NOTES
Careful identification and avoidance of this tree could save you a few nasty pokes. Old and dead branches have a tendency to fall off or be ripped from the tree by the wind. These fallen branches can present a hazard to hikers unaware of their proximity to the Honey Locust. These thorns can puncture shoes and possibly deliver a deep wound. Avoidance is the best policy.


USEFUL TIPS
Although the edible seed pods are only available during Autumn, the tree itself remains useful year round. The wood itself is quite sturdy and resistant to rot. The dense canopy under the tree can be used as protection from the sun, provided having dealt with the issue of the thorns. The thorns themselves are possibly the most useful part of the Honey Locust. The thorns have been used as fish hooks, spear heads, nails, sewing needles and small game traps. Gather with caution.


48 comments:

  1. Quite a few internet commentators say the thorns are poisonous. I agree. This is day 2 for me after getting very lightly poked in the wrist by one. Pain is comparable to a broken bone. Moderate swelling but immense pain. It wasn't even noticeable till approx 6-7 hours later.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes there is no reaction, sometimes intense. Sometimes antibiotic helps, sometimes not. Sometimes I just ache for up to two days. Worst is when it gets near a joint.

      Delete
    2. depending on how deep the thorn went it could have very well punctured your bone...which may have caused the breaking bone feeling! I hope it got better for you!

      Delete
  2. Puncture wounds are notoriously painful regardless of the medium that creates the wound. These thorns are NOT poisonous that is a medical/scientific fact, however often the honey locust thorns are covered with a layer of particulates including dirt, dust, pollen and other matter and getting all that in the wound increases the inflammation, the risk of infection and obviously the level of pain goes up with foreign bodies in the would in your tissue. My property is covered with these damned trees, I have been stuck, stabbed and poked more times than I care to remember. For the minor pokes I experience a lot of itching and the deeper the puncture is the more painful it is. Apply peroxide, clean out as best you can, use antibiotic ointment and if it doesn't resolve, if it swells or you see red warm skin around it seek medical attention as soon as possible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If that is true, then why do blackberry stickers not cause the same pain, redness and swelling. I think that debunks your theory! Also, the immense pain can come as soon as an hour and a half.

      Delete
    2. I'll bunk your theory right now. I've been pricked by these things many times deep 3in (foot) and shallow 1/2in(hand) and all I've done is clean it with alcohol and cover with neo and bandage or heavy amount of peroxide and goss. I've felt worse these was nothing. I also have a high pain tolerance. Blackberry thorns stickers also not poisonous. If cleaned immediately instead of hours later it won't be as bad.

      Delete
    3. Rose thorns swell me. I found one of these behind my house.

      Delete
    4. Rose thorns swell me. I found one of these behind my house.

      Delete
    5. Obviously these were posted several years ago now, but what theory do the first 2 replies claim to be debunking? I must have missed something...

      Delete
    6. I have honey locust, blackberries and other thorny brush all over my land. And I can say with absolute certainty that honey locusts cuts and punctures take much longer to heal and they hurt much worse. I understand they haven't found toxins, etc, but anecdotal evidence suggest there is still something there.

      I know it's not scientific, but most people I know that have dealt with honey locust have similar experiences; they just hurt more & longer than cuts and scrapes from other plants, so the theory that foreign substances such as dirt, etc cause it doesn't seem to make sense either.

      Delete
  3. A Honey Locust thorn went through my tennis shoe and punctured the ball of my foot in the spring of 2013. Thought it would work its way out. Boy was I wrong. By July, it felt like I was walking on a marble. I waited till October to get it checked out by a Dr. The tip of that thorn worked all the way to the bone of my toe and formed a cyst around it. After waiting till after hunting season, I had surgery mid December to remove the cyst that formed around the microscopic tip of that dang Honey Locust thorn. The cyst looked like it was sprinkled with pepper. Two months recovery and now 6 weeks of upcoming physical therapy to reduce the scar.
    Bottom line... Watch out for Honey Locust thorns and remove them immediately if you get stuck by one. Even thorns many years dead are dangerous.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have been punctured or scratched many of times from this tree. I have them on my land, they are not poisonous just painful. Unless you have an allergy of some sort to it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There may be an irratant - I'm guessing it works like poison ivy and me be dust or pollen from the tree.

      some scouts i was with, clearing a trail, took pokes and scatches. a couple were obviously more that the wound itself should have been (swelling/iching).

      Delete
  5. I have been punctured or scratched many of times from this tree. I have them on my land, they are not poisonous just painful. Unless you have an allergy of some sort to it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was poked and scratched a lot with no issues. But, when a branch fell I had a thorn at least an inch in my wrist. It swelled a lot and I pushed on it and a dark milky puss came out. I kept it as clean as possible with Peroxide etc. As I squeezed on it the next days it turned white then clear and swelling went down. I think it takes a long time to heal because of bacteria, fungal spores and foreign particulates. Our immune systems can handle it, its not like venom. I think the puss was white blood cells merged to the area engulfing the junk.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Spare yourself, and any tree surgeon foolish enough to work for you if you go ahead and plant thorny honey locust. Thornless varieties are available. Spend the few dollars needed to plant these. Don't create the bio-hazard, in the first place. - A former tree surgeon.

    ReplyDelete
  8. If the devil has a plant, this has to be it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No. That would be the Devil's Walking stick :-), , Aralia spinosa, another devil plant.

      Delete
    2. I Agree! I hate these trees since Sunday! My foot has been so painful since I stepped on a thorn. :/

      Delete
    3. I've been seeing these around the property where I live and have been horrified every time I see one, as I'm usually right at one when I see it. Today I suddenly wanted to know what it is, and have my phone with me. Thought maybe/likely/surely it's called a Thorntree. Sure enough. Am surprised that it's a honey locust. At least it has a survivalistic value to it as food. But sounds like getting stuck could be one's undoing.
      Watch and pray.

      Delete
  9. I got poked with a thorn this afternoon around 2pm and tonight around 9pm my hand started hurting a lot, is swollen where the puncture wound is. I wondered how that happened because I didn't hit it hard and now when I just looked at it, I see that it surrounds the hole. Really painful, it felt as if I had sprained something in there. I'll be more careful from now on. Who knew?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am laying in a hospital bed. Surgery from the infection of being poked. Within two hours, severe pain. Two days swollen and infection in my tendon. Happy to report, tree in pieces! Gone!

      Delete
    2. I've kept cutting the one's on my own property, but they grew back in multiples. Have to find a way to get the roots. Maybe fire?

      Delete
  10. I stepped on a thorned branch today and now about 6 hours later it is almost unbearable pain...the entire thorn went through my boot and into my foot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apply PALMERS cocoabutter, top with a bandage asap. Dollar general has the stuff.

      Delete
  11. Use PALMERS cocoabutter and top with bandage, this will remove thorns, infection and all the pain and swelling, good for splinters too. I promise! Signed~OzarkCountryGirl

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you. I'm trying that now. ball of foot feels like walking on a marble. stepped on a thorn about 5 hours ago, and it is SORE. OUCH

      Delete
    2. Wish I would have looked this up earlier. Trying coconut oil on it til I get to the store.

      Delete
  12. I don't care what anyone says, this tree has to have something on it that is a serious irritant...bark oil, pollen dust, I don't know, but I've been stabbed and jabbed by many thorns and *none* of them have hurt like this. Not even poisonous thistles!

    My apartment complex planted one of these spiked honey locust trees right next to the sidewalk for god knows what reason. People get these things in their shoes all the time. On Sunday I was carrying in groceries and one of the thorns/spikes went straight through my shoe and into my foot about 1/4" - 1/2".

    I pulled it out and went on with my day, but about 4 - 5hrs later when the pain should have been gone, it was getting horrible. The spot swelled up in a big ball, I could barely stand to put any weight on it. By that night half my foot was swollen, the bones ached, I could barely flex my toes, and the aching pain radiated up the bones into my ankle.

    I thought it would be better by Monday morning but it was even worse. I woke up, stood up, and fell over from the intense unbearable foot pain. My foot is still half swollen, it aches non-stop all the way into my ankle, I can't move my toes. And none of the spike broke off in my foot and it's definitely not infected, enough time hasn't even passed for an infection to set in.

    Why people would plant these godforsaken trees anywhere is beyond me. They should be driven to extinction.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You people should be suing your landlord for any medical bills. That is not a tree for town.

      Delete
    2. godforsaken tree is right. I have such a painful foot since stepping on a thorn Sunday. :/ I hate these trees!

      Delete
  13. got stabbed last night on my left knuckle and can barely close my fist. I don't care what the experts say, there is something toxic on the thorns. mesquite or any other thorn does NOT have the locust effect.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Me too. Small poke on my knuckle. The joint is all swollen. Somethings weird about this tree. Probably was defrndi g itself against wooly mammoths

    ReplyDelete
  15. Me too. Small poke on my knuckle. The joint is all swollen. Somethings weird about this tree. Probably was defending itself against wooly mammoths

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got stuck by one today and I was like man what did I do to my arm it’s so sore — like sore muscle or something and it’s the right where the thorn punctured weird

      Delete
  16. Dealing with the knuckle swell right now. How can you tell if you broke the tip off? I just pulled and tossed at the time, but now swelling and sprain like pain at the site. Sad, but I'm glad to hear others describing same pain without necessarily needing surgery because I was sure from the pain I must of snapped of 1/4 inch of thorn but perhaps not. I'll keep what I can of my fingers crossed.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Rusty metal has a pretty good chance at causing a tetanus infection if the wound is deep enough or the (suspected) amount of bacterium on the metal was sufficient. Maybe these thorns aren't poisonous per se, but maybe much like rusted metal just has some affinity to easily harbor a specific type of bacteria or a specific type of irritant. Seems like that could be the case as there are no toxic substances known to be contained within these thorns, but they seem to cause disproportionately painful wounds. I believe both sides are correct as I don't disbelieve the people saying the wounds are extremely painful, nor do I disbelieve the science behind the examination of the thorns for toxins (although, we may not fully understand yet if an otherwise benign chemical might cause toxicity under these specific circumstances).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel the same way about date palms. I've been poked by those in my yard as well as agaves they both have an infected like pain come from pokes. After moving to Fl I learned about water locust(very similar to honey locust) when horseback riding along river and scraped my leg on one! Went right through my jeans and was very painful. Although I was in awe of this crazy looking tree with rosettes of 6+inch thorns everywhere! Best of luck to you all!

      Delete
  18. I had a thorn come in off of my dog and stepped on it with my barefoot right in the ball of the foot. The next day the pain was so intense I can't put any weight on my foot. I went to the doctor and there were a few fragments but there's still intense pain and swelling. This is the Devil's Tree for sure! I've been pricked by many things but this is the worst!

    ReplyDelete
  19. My 21 yo son had a thorn from this tree go into his hand and fingers one month ago. He went to the hospital 4 days later. He was there for 2 days and prepped for surgery after Iv antibiotics. They cancelled the surgery last minute because they thought the infection was under control and boy were they wrong. The pain was intense with major swelling and an inability to move his fingers. After the MRI results came in the doctor called and admitted him immediately again for surgery. He has been in the hospital for 5 days with a massive infection in his joint and bone. He has been on IV antibiotics vancomycin and zosyn and an antifungal until yesterday. Vancomycin can cause acute kidney injury (nephrotoxicity). They've had to dc all antibiotics until his kidney levels are normal. He will be sent home with a PICC line for IV antibiotics for 6 weeks but it is not looking like he's getting to leave anytime soon. We are waiting for the culture results. I'm anxious to see what exactly is going on with him as the antibiotics haven't really helped that much . I do know that thorns in general can cause a lot of issues so please seek the appropriate medical care.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Am laying in the hospital. Same problem from a poke.

      Delete
  20. I nearly died from a small sliver of a locust tree. Blood poisoning. I was delirious. Formed a redline from my hand up my arm to elbow first time. Then into my shoulder second time... After delirium and treatments pus pockets formed around the puncture site and all over my fingers.. Also got very ill from a rose bush trimming. And bramble years later.. No joke.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I was poked by the thorns about 10 times while I was trying to gather some, it has been 24 hours and no swelling. It is my belief that these thorns are nontoxic. So I wouldn't worry if I were you.
    I was poked by thorns as long as 6 inches and thorns as long as half an inch.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Use Ichthammol to treat
    https://www.leaf.tv/articles/how-to-use-ichthammol-ointment/

    ReplyDelete
  23. well, I've stepped on one today and OUCH. Now the ball of my foot is sore, and it feels like I am walking on a marble. very sore. I used peroxide and it foamed alot. then antibiotic cream. I have now put Pallets cocoa butter on it and bandaged it up. The like is about 5 hours old now and hurts ALOT. Very sore. this is the tree from hell. thorn went thru my shoe and into my foot about 1/4 an inch. I hate these damn trees.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's the tree from hell! Thorn went into my inner ankle area close to main artery in 2019. Went to dr immediately for tetanus shot as I was due. No antibiotic, (asked NP!) On way home, swelled with pain. Found ft dr, after many calls. Sent pic to GA Ft dr in family. Thot I had MRSA. Told me what to do and I told new dr. Took culture, xray, & meds. Painful, Used cane 4 days. Still some mild pain. Thorns punctured our mower tires! Think black locust thorns are Poisonous to cows.

      Delete