The black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia), falsely named acacia, is a tree that was brought to Paris from North America around 1630 by Jean Robin (1579–1662) and subsequently spread throughout almost all of Europe and Asia. Its wood is of yellowish-green in color, which ages over time to a beautiful warm brown hue. Black locust has many good qualities: this wood is probably the most durable native wood, significantly more durable outdoors than oak, the symbol of durability. It is very elastic and tough, dense, very hard, with little shrinkage and hardly any warping. Very popular with bow makers, it is rarely used in furniture making. Burls from black locust trees have the finest figured and densest wood of all burls.
