Shipmast Locust
Robinia pseudoacacia var. rectissima Native to Virginia,
brought to Long Island in 1707 Shipmast Locusts are an upright growing
variety of the Black Locust, long known to Long Island farmers for their
strong wood, resistant to water rot and termites. These two trees marked
an old road that was in use when Planting Fields was still a group of
farms. They have the same pinnately compound leaves and fragrant clusters
of pea-like flowers as the regular Black Locust, but the flowers of
the Shipmast Locust are almost always sterile. However, this Locust
roots readily so vegetative propagation is easy. If not properly used,
Locust fence posts sometimes sprout new shoots.
