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To learn more about the map elements, please download the "Pan-European strategy for genetic conservation of forest trees"
This distribution map has been developed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (partly based on the EUFORGEN map) and released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0)
Caudullo, Giovanni; Welk, Erik; San-Miguel-Ayanz, Jesús (2017). Chorological maps and data for the main European woody species. figshare. Collection. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.2918528
The following experts have contributed to the development of the EUFORGEN distribution maps:
Fazia Krouchi (Algeria), Hasmik Ghalachyan (Armenia), Thomas Geburek (Austria), Berthold Heinze (Austria), Rudi Litschauer (Austria), Rudolf Litschauer (Austria), Michael Mengl (Austria), Ferdinand Müller (Austria), Franz Starlinger (Austria), Valida Ali-zade (Azerbaijan), Vahid Djalal Hajiyev (Azerbaijan), Karen Cox (Belgium), Bart De Cuyper (Belgium), Olivier Desteucq (Belgium), Patrick Mertens (Belgium), Jos Van Slycken (Belgium), An Vanden Broeck (Belgium), Kristine Vander Mijnsbrugge (Belgium), Dalibor Ballian (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Alexander H. Alexandrov (Bulgaria), Alexander Delkov (Bulgaria), Ivanova Denitsa Pandeva (Bulgaria), Peter Zhelev Stoyanov (Bulgaria), Joso Gracan (Croatia), Marilena Idzojtic (Croatia), Mladen Ivankovic (Croatia), Željka Ivanović (Croatia), Davorin Kajba (Croatia), Hrvoje Marjanovic (Croatia), Sanja Peric (Croatia), Andreas Christou (Cyprus), Xenophon Hadjikyriacou (Cyprus), Václav Buriánek (Czech Republic), Jan Chládek (Czech Republic), Josef Frýdl (Czech Republic), Petr Novotný (Czech Republic), Martin Slovacek (Czech Republic), Zdenek Špišek (Czech Republic), Karel Vancura (Czech Republic), Ulrik Bräuner (Denmark), Bjerne Ditlevsen (Denmark), Jon Kehlet Hansen (Denmark), Jan Svejgaard Jensen (Denmark), Kalev Jðgiste (Estonia), Tiit Maaten (Estonia), Raul Pihu (Estonia), Ülo Tamm (Estonia), Arvo Tullus (Estonia), Aivo Vares (Estonia), Teijo Nikkanen (Finland), Sanna Paanukoski (Finland), Mari Rusanen (Finland), Pekka Vakkari (Finland), Leena Yrjänä (Finland), Daniel Cambon (France), Eric Collin (France), Alexis Ducousso (France), Bruno Fady (France), François Lefèvre (France), Brigitte Musch (France), Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio (France), Luc E. Pâques (France), Julien Saudubray (France), Marc Villar (France), Vlatko Andonovski (FYR Macedonia), Dragi Pop-Stojanov (FYR Macedonia), Merab Machavariani (Georgia), Irina Tvauri (Georgia), Alexander Urushadze (Georgia), Bernd Degen (Germany), Jochen Kleinschmit (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Volker Schneck (Germany), Richard Stephan (Germany), H. H. Kausch-Blecken Von Schmeling (Germany), Georg von Wühlisch (Germany), Iris Wagner (Germany), Heino Wolf (Germany), Paraskevi Alizoti (Greece), Filippos Aravanopoulos (Greece), Andreas Drouzas (Greece), Despina Paitaridou (Greece), Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou (Greece), Kostas Thanos (Greece), Sándor Bordács (Hungary), Csaba Mátyás (Hungary), László Nagy (Hungary), Thröstur Eysteinsson (Iceland), Adalsteinn Sigurgeirsson (Iceland), Halldór Sverrisson (Iceland), John Fennessy (Ireland), Ellen O'Connor (Ireland), Fulvio Ducci (Italy), Silvia Fineschi (Italy), Bartolomeo Schirone (Italy), Marco Cosimo Simeone (Italy), Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin (Italy), Lorenzo Vietto (Italy), Janis Birgelis (Latvia), Virgilijus Baliuckas (Lithuania), Kestutis Cesnavicius (Lithuania), Darius Danusevicius (Lithuania), Valmantas Kundrotas (Lithuania), Alfas Pliûra (Lithuania), Darius Raudonius (Lithuania), Robert du Fays (Luxembourg), Myriam Heuertz (Luxembourg), Claude Parini (Luxembourg), Fred Trossen (Luxembourg), Frank Wolter (Luxembourg), Joseph Buhagiar (Malta), Eman Calleja (Malta), Ion Palancean (Moldova), Dragos Postolache (Moldova), Gheorghe Postolache (Moldova), Hassan Sbay (Morocco), Tor Myking (Norway), Tore Skrøppa (Norway), Anna Gugala (Poland), Jan Kowalczyk (Poland), Czeslaw Koziol (Poland), Jan Matras (Poland), Zbigniew Sobierajski (Poland), Maria Helena Almeida (Portugal), Filipe Costa e Silva (Portugal), Luís Reis (Portugal), Maria Carolina Varela (Portugal), Ioan Blada (Romania), Alexandru-Lucian Curtu (Romania), Lucian Dinca (Romania), Georgeta Mihai (Romania), Mihai Olaru (Romania), Gheorghe Parnuta (Romania), Natalia Demidova (Russian Federation), Mikhail V. Pridnya (Russian Federation), Andrey Prokazin (Russian Federation), Srdjan Bojovic (Serbia) , Vasilije Isajev (Serbia), Saša Orlovic (Serbia), Rudolf Bruchánik (Slovakia), Roman Longauer (Slovakia), Ladislav Paule (Slovakia), Gregor Bozič (Slovenia), Robert Brus (Slovenia), Katarina Celič (Slovenia), Hojka Kraigher (Slovenia), Andrej Verlič (Slovenia), Marjana Westergren (Slovenia), Ricardo Alía (Spain), Josefa Fernández-López (Spain), Luis Gil Sanchez (Spain), Pablo Gonzalez Goicoechea (Spain), Santiago C. González-Martínez (Spain), Sonia Martin Albertos (Spain), Eduardo Notivol Paino (Spain), María Arantxa Prada (Spain), Alvaro Soto de Viana (Spain), Lennart Ackzell (Sweden), Jonas Bergquist (Sweden), Sanna Black-Samuelsson (Sweden), Jonas Cedergren (Sweden), Gösta Eriksson (Sweden), Markus Bolliger (Switzerland), Felix Gugerli (Switzerland), Rolf Holderegger (Switzerland), Peter Rotach (Switzerland), Marcus Ulber (Switzerland), Sven M.G. de Vries (The Netherlands), Khouja Mohamed Larbi (Tunisia), Murat Alan (Turkey), Gaye Kandemir (Turkey), Gursel Karagöz (Turkey), Zeki Kaya (Turkey), Hasan Özer (Turkey), Hacer Semerci (Turkey), Ferit Toplu (Turkey), Mykola M. Vedmid (Ukraine), Roman T. Volosyanchuk (Ukraine), Stuart A'Hara (United Kingdom), Joan Cottrell (United Kingdom), Colin Edwards (United Kingdom), Michael Frankis (United Kingdom), Jason Hubert (United Kingdom), Karen Russell (United Kingdom), C.J.A. Samuel (United Kingdom).
Honey locust shows high genetic diversity within populations and low but significant differentiation between them, together with high heterozygosity and allelic richness, indicating a broad genetic base (Schnabel and Hamrick, 1990). Cultivated thornless and wild thorned varieties of honey locust show no significant genetic differences, suggesting these traits are not tied to overall genetic structure (Hali, 2006).
Most research focuses on the species’ native range, where diversity is consistently high; however, direct studies in Europe remain limited. Because of its adaptability, drought and salinity tolerance, and high variability, honey locust has maintained genetic diversity after introduction into Europe. Recent genetic-marker development offers tools for assessing genetic diversity in both native and introduced populations (Schnabel and Hamrick, 1990).
Genetic variation in honey locust is mostly within populations, with higher similarity between geographically close populations, indicating isolation by distance within the species’ native range (Schnabel, Nason, and Hamrick, 1998). Honey locust populations typically have low genetic differentiation, primarily maintained by extensive pollen gene flow, although localized seed dispersal and female reproductive success influence fine-scale structuring (Schnabel, Nason, and Hamrick, 1998). Juveniles often display stronger genetic structuring than adults due to limited seed movement and family grouping, which may increase genetic structuring across generations (Schnabel and Hamrick, 1990). Peripheral populations show higher gene flow and less differentiation than central-range populations (Hali, 2006). However, research on the genetic distribution of honey locust has been carried out only in its native range and not in Europe.
Honey locust maintains strong gene flow across its native range in North America (Schnabel and Hamrick, 1990; Hali, 2006). Long-distance pollen movement by wind ensures genetic connectivity even in fragmented populations (Hali, 2006). Seeds are primarily dispersed by animals, both livestock and wildlife, although dispersal distance and genetic structure can vary significantly because of unpredictable behaviour of secondary dispersers (Schnabel, Nason, and Hamrick, 1998).
Honey locust is dioecious, so only females produce seed and female reproductive success is often uneven. While male gene flow is extensive, effective population size can be influenced by the small number of females contributing to regeneration, especially in isolated populations (Schnabel, Nason, and Hamrick, 1998).
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.
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The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.
Threats to the genetic diversity of honey locust in Europe remain unclear due to limited research. The species is mostly planted in urban areas, where founder effects, clonal propagation, and limited introductions may limit genetic variation. However, specific pressures are not well documented and further research is needed.
Management strategies for honey locust in Europe are undeveloped. As an introduced and primarily urban species, its long-term genetic status is poorly understood. Monitoring genetic diversity and investigating whether populations originate from cultivars or wild sources would be essential for future management, but more research is required.
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.
Further reading
Gailing, O., Staton, M.E., Lane, T., Schlarbaum, S.E., Nipper, R., Owusu, S.A., and Carlson, J.E. 2017. Construction of a framework genetic linkage map in Gleditsia triacanthos L. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter, 35(2): 177–187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-016-1012-0
References
Hali, M. 2006. Genetic diversity of Gleditsia triacanthos, honey locust across its North American range. MSc thesis. Windsor, Ontario, Canada, University of Windsor. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14776/1840
Schnabel, A. and Hamrick, J.L. 1990. Organization of genetic diversity within and among populations of Gleditsia triacanthos (Leguminosae). American Journal of Botany, 77(8): 1060–1069. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1990.tb13601.x
Schnabel, A., Nason, J.D., and Hamrick, J.L. 1998. Understanding the population genetic structure of Gleditsia triacanthos L.: seed dispersal and variation in female reproductive success. Molecular Ecology, 7(7): 819–832. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-294x.1998.00397.x
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