Robinia hispida

Robinia hispida is native to the southern Appalachians, USA, and planted and occasionally escaped elsewhere. Isely (1998) recognizes five varieties; Kartesz (1999) follows this treatment. The var. rosea has sometimes been recognized as a separate species, R. boyntonii, and other species such as R. elliottii, fertilis, kelseyi, and nana have also sometimes been recognized. Isely (1998) notes that this species "is evidently mostly an aggregate of sterile clones that reproduce vegetatively" with fertile plants "endemic in the mountains"; these cannot be distinguished from the sterile ones "except that they set fruit". The presumed native range of the species, including all varieties, is Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and perhaps Kentucky (cf. Isely, 1998); all reports elsewhere are presumably escapes from cultivation. LEM 4Jul01.