This species has been freely planted since pioneer times and has escaped in all parts of the state. It was, no doubt, a native in the southeastern part of the state near the Ohio River.

Tree to 25 m, the twigs and peduncles puberulent, becoming subglabrous; stipules commonly modified into spines 1 cm; lfls 7-19, oval or elliptic, 2-4 cm; racemes drooping, many-fld, 1-2 dm; fls white, fragrant, 1.5-2.5 cm; cal finely hairy, the upper lip truncate or broadly notched; ovary glabrous; fr 5-10 cm; 2n=20. Native from Pa. and s. Ind. to Okla., s. to Ga. and Ala., and often escaped from cult. n. to N.S. and Que. May, June.

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

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