'ship mast locust

Blue Sky · March 10, 2011, 11:44:38 AM

Does this stuff really exist or is it another name for very straight locust. I bought two tractor trailer loads last year from a service forester in Danville, Vt. I went and looked at them before they were cut and they were the straightest locust I have ever seen before, 80-120 feet tall-DBHs of 8-20". Turns out hey were growing on ancient sea bottom- pure wood food(From the Tatonic Mt Range). There was a fella from N.Y. years ago that was talking about a sub-species , but I have not found any conclusive evidence of this. I found out years ago that locust grows in every state in the continental U.S. and Canada and is everywhere in England, Europe.

beenthere · March 10, 2011, 12:07:27 PM

The name is likely what you suspect...a classification of a locust that is suitable for a ship mast. It isn't likely a separate species or variety, if that is what you are asking.

tyb525 · March 10, 2011, 03:13:10 PM

It could be a certain strain that happened to be straighter, or just called that when it grew straight, like beenthere said.

What are you doing with it? sawing?

bruce hare · March 10, 2011, 04:30:25 PM

hi new to forum i was told years ago that locust was not native too north america . rather it was brought here from england. i find it interesting how you will offen see it growing near old cellar wholes. arround here its usually quite crooked.

Magicman · March 10, 2011, 05:46:27 PM

Hi bruce hare, and Welcome to the Forestry Forum.

tyb525 · March 10, 2011, 07:02:08 PM

If there is indeed something special about those specific "mast locust", bring a few seedlings over, I could use as much straight locust as I can get ;D

Ironwood · March 10, 2011, 07:04:19 PM

So you are just checking on name, not in need of a mast?

Ironwood

WDH · March 10, 2011, 07:58:37 PM

Hey, you don't ever know when you might need a mast :D.

Ironwood · March 10, 2011, 08:34:25 PM

I have NEVER seen a straight locust other than 4-8" diameter in cometetive stand.

Ironwood

WDH · March 10, 2011, 08:58:56 PM

There are some super nice ones in the North Georgia mountains, but they are mainly on the National Forest. That is one species that I have never sawn.

tyb525 · March 10, 2011, 09:56:02 PM

I just got some free black locust logs from a neighbor. 20' truck, no branches or knots, 18" butt, about 16" top. Black locust is pretty uncommon around here, compared to honey locust.

sandhills · March 10, 2011, 10:12:27 PM

Can someone point me in the right direction as to what type of locust is what. We have several different kinds around here but most are the ones that have thorns growing all over them. We have one row in a shelter belt that would likely have been planted when my grandpa was in his twenties, they grew straight and fairly tall, they were planted between rows of erc.

tyb525 · March 10, 2011, 10:23:29 PM

There are two species:

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) Has deeply furrowed bark, the wood is orange/yellow/green fading to a darker color. The most rot resistant of the two. There are little thorns near the leaves I think. The seed pods are smaller.

Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) This is the one with thorns on the trunk. The wood is red to bright orange. IMO it is harder than Black locust, and supposedly less rot resistant, however it is heavier. The leaves are slightly bigger, and the seed pods are significantly bigger.

That's my un-technical description.

Phorester · March 10, 2011, 10:26:08 PM

It's a variety of black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia var rectissima, that I think was found on Long Island NY in the 1700's. It was widely planted in the 1950s. It was supposed to grow taller and straighter than the regular black locust and supposed to be more resistant to locust borers. There is 2 or 3-acre patch planted in one of my counties in the 50's or 60's by a farmer who liked to experiment with new plants of all sorts. To me these don't look any different than the native black locust that grows all over the place in this part of Virginia.

WDH · March 11, 2011, 09:31:21 PM

In black locust, the thorns are stipular, that is, they are associated with the leaf petiole (like Ty said). They are similar to the thorns on a rose bush where there are two thorns at the base of each leaf. Honeylocust thorns are modified branches. As such they are not simple rose bush-like thorns a half inch long, they are weapons! The thorns themselves branch and can be 6 inches long and occur anywhere on the stem, even the trunk.

tyb525 · March 11, 2011, 10:23:38 PM

In my observations they are the thickest on the trunk. And talk about scary! When I was younger I was scared to death of them, I guess I thought they could shoot their huge needles ;) :D

WDH · March 12, 2011, 08:05:15 AM

With black locust, one gets pricked. With honeylocust, one gets stabbed

.

Phorester · March 12, 2011, 09:59:35 PM

[ The thorns themselves branch and can be 6 inches long and occur anywhere on the stem, even the trunk.
[/quote]

Also occur quite often in tractor and truck tires after driving close to one.

sandhills · March 12, 2011, 11:36:52 PM

Thanks guys, apparently we have a majority of honey locust, long thorns and a lot on the trunks.

woodsteach · March 14, 2011, 10:06:43 AM

I don't know about the black but the honey locust spines and I don't get along.

I just finished up a job logging some and I leaned into a log and stabbed my thigh with a cluster of them DanG things. Finally after 2 weeks of treatment the swelling and itching has for the most part disappeared.

Has anyone else had a reaction to the honeylocust thorns?

woods

tyb525 · March 14, 2011, 01:51:23 PM

I think I read somewhere about the thorns having some kind of poison or irritant in them. Not sure, but I do know they can feel like a bee sting sometimes.