On the cover.

摘要

Robinia consists of 15 species of trees and shrubs that are all native to the United States. Black locust, Robinia pseudoaca-cia, is native to eastern and mid-western United States, and found scattered throughout the western states. It is cold hardy, and successfully introduced across most of southern Canada. New Mexico locust or hojalito, R. neomexicana, is a shrub or small tree of the southwest states. Black locust was introduced into Europe in 1600 by the Parisian botanist Jean Robin, for which the genus is named. Black locust wood is hard, durable, and resistant to rot, therefore useful for fence-posts. Use for lumber has been discouraged by its susceptibility to the locust borer, Megacyllene robiniae. In Europe, with lack of the borer, black locust wood is used as supports for grape vines in vineyards, as lumber, and as an ornamental tree. Due to its extensive roots and thickets from suckering, it is used for reclamation and erosion control, although the leaves contain allelopathic flavonoids (robinetin, myricetin, and qoercetin) which inhibit other plant growth. Seeds and pods are a food source for cattle, wildlife, and birds. In Europe, the fruit is used to feed sheep, and sometimes eaten by humans. New Mexico Indians eat the pink hojalito flowers.