USPP836P - Honey locust tree - Google Patents

Description

May 17, 1949 J. D. SIEBENTHALER Plant Pat. 836

HONEY LOCUST TREE Filed Oct. 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 17, 1949v Filed Oct. 14, 1947 J. D. SIEBENTHALER HONEY LOCUST TREE Plant Pat. 836

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 17, 1949 Plant Pat.

HONEY LOCUST TREE John D. Siebenthaler, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Siebenthaler (30., Dayton, Ohio,'a corporation of Ohio Application October 14, 1947, Serial No. 779,796

1 Claim. '(o1.'47 59) The present invention or discovery relates to a new and distinct variety of honey locust tree originatingby selection from seedlings of the variety Gledz'tsia tridcanthos inermis.

It is well known that locust trees are generally very valuable for park planting and for street ornamentals because of their shade characteristics. Thetype from which the present Variety springs is quite common in certain sections of this country. but due to the thorns. and/or seed production of most of them, the desirability of use of the honey locust on streets for shade purposes has been practically out of the question, especially in .close, proximity to heavy traflic and/or where it is desirable to grow grass or other crops under trees.

The discoveryand development of the new variety described h-ereinefrom the standpoint of three of its characteristics is commercially important, under such conditions, said characteristics being habit of growth, its thornlessness and absence of fruit. While other thornless instances are not uncommon, it is to be understood that the value of the present variety lies not only in the combination'of itsv thornlessand fruitless traits, but also in the facts that the new variety develops into a large tree of desirable vase-shaped top, grows. faster than average, and hasdarker green leaves as compared to the seedling type from which it comes, which vary greatly in size,

shape, rate of-growth, color of'foliage, fruiting- Flowers: Male flowers only.

shade purposes, and its uniform symmetrical shape; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged illustration of a specimen of the flowers ofthis variety showing one of the main features of novelty. Toone skilled in the art, it will be apparent that these are only ma-le flowers, there being no female organs present or produced by the flowers of this tree.

The following is. a detailed description of the new variety, color terminology being in. accordance with ordinary dictionary significance:

Specimens described grown at Dayton, Ohio. Tree: Large; vigorous; spreading; open, but

denser than the prior honey locust of the class from which this originated; vase-formed; round topped when young, developing into vase shape as upper branches exceed lower branches in length; hardy; unproductive; thornless; progeny also thornless.

Trunk: Medium; smooth.

BrancheslDiffuse, ascending and outward curving, forming broad'vase-shaped head; medium; smooth; brown; glossy.

Leaves: Pinnate and/or bipinnate; length 8" to 12"; width 4" to 8"; large;.leaflets 20 to 30, length 1" to 1 /2", width' /z; oblong lanceolate; abruptly pointed; medium' thick; dark green; smooth;

Margin: Crenulate serrate.

Petiole: Short; slender.

Fruit: None. Use: As street tree, shade and lawn'tree.

I claim: 7 w

A new and distinct variety of honeylocust tree, characterized as to novelty by its habit of quick growth, its size and shape, its dense foliage suitable for shade purposes, its fruitlessness and consequent lack of production of seed pods, and the absence of thorns, substantially as shown and described.

JOHN D. SIEBENTHALER.

No references cited.

Images