permaculture

[Rick Valley <bamboogrove@cmug.com>]

OK----
here's some pertinant bits from various papers in "Black Locust: Biology,
Culture and Utilization" proceedings of the Intn'l Conf. '91 at Michigan
State.
Toxicity in Black Locust is not fully understood but appears to be due to
combined effects of a soup of toxins including tannins, phenols and
proteins, especially the lectin robin. (The high protein content of Black
Locust is primarily lectin) Tannins and phenols are abundant in the
heartwood; the sapwood is in fact less rot resistant than most woods.  The
honey is highly regarded for quality, and there is breeding work being done
in Central Europe (where Locust is a valueable timber species) on nectar
producing strains.
Mule deer have tannin binding salivary secretions. This is something which
has not been studied systematically in herbivores, and may be an ability
that goats also have.
Anyway, you can't read the book and not get excited about the possibilities
for this diverse species; despite the problems. (which are typical of many
legumes)
-Rick