Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera)

Range in pre-European America (Source: Wikipedia)

Physical attributes This deciduous tree is most recognizable by its distinctive and eye-catching fruit. Despite its name it is not a citrus but is part of the Mulberry family. The trunk is furrowed and branches develop thorns. It is indigenous to the Red River in Texas and Oklahoma where it grows in damp soils although it can thrive in a variety of environments and is often a pioneer species in disturbed soils. The source region of Osage Orange has a warm midlatitude climate as does Bremerton although the source region has higher average temperatures than Bremerton. The trees are widespread in the United States, largely east of the Rockies. Deer and cattle graze on the leaves but they are a hazard to cattle who can choke on the fruit. It is thought that historically the fruit was a food source for giant sloths resulting in seed dispersal. The wood is yellow and very hard; it has the highest BTU of any North American firewood at 30.00 MBTU’s per cord.

Other names: Hedge apple, horse-apple, hedge, bodark, Bois d’Arc, yellow wood, mock-orange, and bow-wood.

Cultural connections The Osage Orange is named after the Osage Nation, a Native American tribe who prized the wood for bows. Early pioneers used it for wheel rims on horns-drawn carts and for posts and supports as the wood is both hard and rot-resistant. The tree was promoted in the mid-1800s as a fence and, because of its thorns, is regarded as the inspiration for barbed-wire. In 1847 Professor Jonathan Turner, a biology teacher at Illinois College, described these fences as being “horse high, bull strong and pig tight.” Today the college in Jacksonville, Illinois has an Osage Festival in late spring. The tree is still widely used in the south for windbreaks between fields. In 2015, chemist Todd Johnson, developed a cosmetic oil called Pomifera from the seeds. The source of his inspiration was folk-lore passed down from his great uncle, The widely-held folk-law associates the fruit with healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Highlight in the region where Osage Orange is indigenous The Big Bend National Park in Texas is environmentally interesting. This park is the largest publically accessible area without roads in Texas. Within the area there are a wide variety of habitats from arid mountains to riparian habitats by the Big Bend River. There is an extensive trail network and a greater variety of birds than in any other National Park. It is also home to the Southwestern Earless Lizard.

Observations in fall 2015 and winter 2016 Observations will go here

UNFINISHED DRAFT

S Digby, 5 January 2016