This sponsored tree was a present to Professor Volker Ulbricht from his staff on the occasion of a milestone birthday. Due to the sudden death of Professor Ulbricht, the tree could not be presented to him after planting, so it was rededicated as a memorial tree. 

The American honey locust is a deciduous tree and reaches an average height of 15 meters. This tree species is native to the central and eastern parts of North America. It is often naturalized in southern Europe, but rarely in central Europe. Here, it is frequently planted in parks and gardens. The American honey locust is also occasionally used for lining streets, due to its undemanding nature.

This tree species is characterized by delicate leaves, small fragrant flowers, and spectacular legumes which give it its name in German (Lederhülsenbaum - literally leather legume tree) Trunk and branches are often thorny. Young twigs are densely covered with single thorns, while branches and smaller trunks bear branched tufts of thorns. Their size varies between 8 and 20 centimeters. This has led to the German designation of "false thorn of Christ." The leaves are considered poisonous, but seeds and fruit are edible.