Leguminosae -- Legume family
    J. C. Huntley
    Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), sometimes called  yellow locust, grows naturally on a wide range of sites but does  best on rich moist limestone soils. It has escaped cultivation  and become naturalized throughout eastern North America and parts  of the West.
    Black locust is not a commercial timber species but is useful for  many other purposes. Because it is a nitrogen fixer and has rapid  juvenile growth, it is widely planted as an ornamental, for  shelterbelts, and for land reclamation. It is suitable for  fuelwood and pulp and provides cover for wildlife, browse for  deer, and cavities for birds.