4; see text Robinia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, tribe Robinieae, native to North America.

Commonly known as locusts,[2] they are deciduous trees and shrubs growing 4–25 metres (13–82 ft) tall.

[1] Some species of Robinia are used as food by caterpillars of Lepidoptera, including such moths as the brown-tail (Euproctis chrysorrhoea), the buff-tip (Phalera bucephala), the engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia), the giant leopard moth (Hypercompe scribonia), the locust underwing (Euparthenos nubilis), and Gracillariidae leaf miners like Chrysaster ostensackenella, Macrosaccus robiniella and Parectopa robiniella.

All species produce toxic lectins, throughout the entire plant, with the exception of the flowers.

[4][5] The flowers are used in teas and in pancakes,[6] and are consumed as fritters in many parts of Europe.