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Robinia pseudoacacia, commonly known as the Black Locust or False Acacia is a member of the pea family and has nitrogen-fixing bacteria on its root system; for this reason it can grow on poor soils and is an early colonizer of disturbed areas. It is native to the south eastern United States but has been widely planted and naturalised elsewhere in temperate North America, Europe, Southern Africa and Asia.It is a medium sized tree, generally 12 to 18m (40 to 60 ft)and grows rapidly even in polluted city environments and produces a showy display of flowers that are both nectar bearing and fragrant and important for honey production in the eastern United States and Europe. It is also planted for firewood because it grows rapidly, is highly resilient in a variety of soils, and it grows back even faster from its stump after harvest. It also readily reproduces from suckers that can appear from parts of the root system, these can be rapid growing and very thorny. The wood is extremely hard, resistant to rot and durable, making it prized for furniture, flooring, paneling, fence posts and small boats. False acacia is highly valued as firewood because it burns slowly, with little visible flame or smoke and is said to have a comparable heat content to anthracite coal.