Robinia pseudoacacia False-acacia

A medium sized, spiny tree which grows quickly in warm or mild climates producing straight trunks that have grey-brown, fissured bark. In late spring or early summer it bears impressive cascades of scented flowers much like Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides) but white. It is frequently grown in parks and as a street tree and it will naturalise by suckering. It also produces lots of seeds and seedling can arise along pavements under favourable conditions. It is a troublesome invasive in southern Europe but is not yet a great problem in Britain, a situation that may change as our climate warms. The leaves contain a number of interesting phytochemicals such as flavanoids, alkaloids and saponins and extracts have been screened for anti-cancer properties.

Neophyte