Locust tree

Locust tree can mean:

• Any of a number of tree species in the genera Gleditsia or Robinia, including:

Honey locust, (Gleditsia triacanthos), a leguminous tree with pods having a sweet, edible pulp

Black locust, (Robinia pseudoacacia), a leguminous tree with toxic pods

Water locust, (Gleditsia aquatica), a leguminous tree with one seed per pod

• Or less commonly, "African locust bean tree" (Parkia biglobosa), which is also known as néré
• Also not commonly, the carob tree, Ceratonia siliqua, whose pods are called locust beans.

Etymology

In North America and Greece the term "locust" (gr. akris) was applied to the pods of the carob tree, that somehow resemble the insect. By extension many other pod carrying trees have been called "locust tree".