Tree of the Week: The carob tree

Good morning, Hiroki  Kuroda, and good luck tonight. This has the makings of a memorable October Saturday --- a little rain, maybe, a little college football, and some playoff baseball. Before all that, I'll start it with a pot of coffee and Pieter Severynen's Tree of the Week.

The carob tree – Ceratonia siliqua 

The carob tree, aka "locust," has served us for thousands of years. The sugary pulp of its "bean pod" fruit provides food to man and beast alike. St. John subsisted on it in the desert, according to the New Testament; hence the tree’s other name: "St. John’s Bread."

Its seeds were the "carat" unit against which gemstones and diamonds were weighed (now standardized at .2 grams), and the purity of gold defined (24 carat). In an etymological oddity, the name "locust" is applied to the tree and its fruit; various other trees in the Leguminosae family, such as Gleditsia and Robinia; and (migratory) grasshoppers. 

The evergreen carob tree grows at a slow to moderate pace into a beautiful 30- to 40-foot, dense, broadly round-headed shape; it is often multi-trunked. The tree evokes grace and strength simultaneously. The dark gray trunk is heavy and gnarled; branches are twisted. Give it room: If used as a street tree in an average planting hole or parkway, the root flare will lift surrounding concrete. Leaves are leathery, glossy, dark green, and pinnate: the 1- to 2-inch-long rounded leaflets are arranged on each side of a central stalk, like a bird feather. Small red flowers are followed by a heavy crop of 4- to 12-inch-long bean-like pods that turn purple-black when finally ripe and contain many seeds. The tree loves full sun, and will take most any soil except wet; while it is extremely drought-resistant, it needs some moisture for a good crop, but may die when over-watered, especially when older.

Originally from the Eastern or Asian Mediterranean area, the carob tree was enthusiastically spread by the Greeks and later the Arabs to the remainder of the Eurafrican Mediterranean countries. Spanish missionaries brought it here. Pods and seeds are used to make chocolate and coffee substitutes; food stabilizers and thickeners; high-protein food for diabetics; and in many commercial applications. Wood is hard and close-grained.

Thanks, Pieter.

--Peter Viles

Thoughts? Comments? E-mail story tips to Peter Viles

Photo credit: Pieter Severynen

Comments

[syscom3]

This looks like a tree you dont want near driveways, sidewalks and utility lines.

Its beautifull though.

[Uncle Billy Is Shocked]

Definitely a looker. And apparently useful in the precious gem world. I tried carob products for a while but couldn't get over the feeling that it was fake chocolate.

And speaking of things that people plant in their front yards... what's up with all the human sized statues of liberty that are popping up along residential streets in Beverly HIlls? Are these people saying "look at us, we're patriotic"? Or did someone have a close-out sale? What gives? (Always wanted to say that: "What gives")

[sailor7x]

FROM NY "behind the" TIMES

THE RECKONING

"So Mr. Mudd made a fateful choice. Disregarding warnings from his managers that lenders were making too many loans that would never be repaid, he steered Fannie into more treacherous corners of the mortgage market, according to executives."

Great new series from the NY TIMES

[MyLessThanPrimeBeef]

I recognize this tree of the week from Leonardo Da Vince's Adoration of the Magi, in which a young man, with his own admirers back there, can be seen making the 'John gesture' under the carob tree is behind the Holy Family.

I knew John was associated with the carob tree, but I didn't know it was the tree that fed him in the desert until now, that the 'locusts and honey' he ate were vegetables. Was he vegetarian then? Any Seventh Day Adventists out there?

[Wonderwood]

These trees are a menace. If you park a car anywhere near one, it will be covered in some kind of vile sticky sap come morning. I've stopped getting my car washed entirely, as most places try to charge me double - and they should, it's impossible to get off. These odious trees line the perimeter of the Village Green, where I live (and park) in Baldwin Hills. Interestingly enough, when they fall, the city won't let the VG re-plant Carobs despite the Historic Landmark status. Instead they plant Carrotwood, but I've never parked under one of those, so it may not be any better...

[Chamooda]

Where can I find this tree? The carab is delicious to eat raw, I'd like to pick some and eat it but I can't find the tree here in LA. Please let me know. Thanks!