Tree virus?

[Sheal]

Are all the thorns on this tree a virus please? And is it possible to identify the tree from the leaves?

 

[Tetters]

Hello Sheal, I found this https://www.britannica.com/plant/honey-locust-tree-genus It may help. I have never seen one of those before
I reckon those spikes were popped on there to stop naughty boys climbing on it.
The trouble is, the leaves don`t match up do they

 

[Tetters]

This one is a Hemiptelea davidii which does seem thorny

 

[Sheal]

Thanks @Tetters. Comparing the two trees and looking at the leaves of the second one, I'm inclined to think it's that because of the serrated edge. However, the thorns on the first one seem to match the tree in the images. I'll pass both these on to my daughter-in-law in America - the tree is near her place of work in Ohio.

 

[Tetters]

We`ve been discussing this, and we think it is more likely that the tree with the thorns is a Honey locust as in the first identification, and the ovate serrated leaves have probably fallen from the tree next to it.
It is surprising really that there are so many people on this forum who come from America who seem to be unable to identify a tree that lives there

 

[Sheal]

Yes, you are right Tetters. My daughter-in-law confirmed It's Honey Locust. Definitely an unusual tree and I wonder if those thorns are as lethal as they look?

To be fair there's probably a lot of British gardeners that can't identify our trees either - only taking notice of those in their own gardens.