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Osage orange, (Maclura pomifera), also called bowwood, French bois d'arc, thorny tree or shrub native to the south-central United States, the only species of its genus in the family Moraceae. The Osage orange is often trained as a hedge; when planted in rows along a boundary, it forms an effective spiny barrier.
- Can humans eat osage oranges?
- Is Osage orange wood toxic?
- Where does osage orange wood grow?
- Where did Osage orange come from?
- What happens if you eat an Osage orange?
- What animals eat osage oranges?
- Is Osage orange good firewood?
- Is Osage orange good for cutting boards?
- Are osage oranges poisonous to dogs?
- Can you plant an Osage orange?
- Will deer eat Osage orange?
- How long does an Osage orange tree live?
Can humans eat osage oranges?
Osage orange fruit, which has a fruity, citric fragrance, is inedible to humans, but squirrels seem to love it. The fruit has caused the death of quite a few cows and other livestock that try to swallow one whole.
Is Osage orange wood toxic?
Workability: Working this Osage Orange can be difficult due to its hardness and density, though it is reported to have little dulling effect on cutting edges. It turns well, and also takes stains, glues and finishes well. Odor: No characteristic odor. Allergies/Toxicity: Sap has been reported to cause dermatitis.
Where does osage orange wood grow?
The Osage-orange, Maclura pomifera, is an ancient tree, a prehistoric survivor. Though related to the mulberry, it is alone in its genus, and is native to the North American continent, where it thrives in zones 5-9—across the Great Plains and up to Ontario.
Where did Osage orange come from?
Its true native range is thought to have been the Red River basin area of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Osage orange trees very likely came to Missouri through intentional introduction by early settlers (and possibly Native Americans, too), but this tree's interesting story doesn't start with purposeful plantings.
What happens if you eat an Osage orange?
Osage oranges have a green, bitter flavor with mild notes of cucumber and a fruity, citrus-like aroma. The flavor is generally unpleasant, unpalatable, and some may feel ill after ingesting the bitter fruit, causing many to deem it inedible.
What animals eat osage oranges?
Deer do eat Osage-oranges, but apparently mainly by munching fallen fruit late in the winter. Cows tend to choke on them. Squirrels strip out the seeds and eat them, so only dropped seeds are dispersed.
Is Osage orange good firewood?
Osage orange firewood, also known as hedge, horse apple or bodark, is one of the best firewood types available. This oddly shaped tree does not grow very tall (roughly 26-49 feet) but its wood is extremely dense making it a great firewood choice.
Is Osage orange good for cutting boards?
Because of Osage orange's hardness and durability, it often was used for wagon wheels. ... Yet sanded smooth and oiled, Osage orange beats all others for cutting boards that will stand up to a blade.
Are osage oranges poisonous to dogs?
Hedge apples are not poisonous to any animal, including dogs and cats. ... The hedge apple takes many different names, including the Osage orange, the Maclura pomifera and bodark. It is often labeled incorrectly as a hedge ball. In some places in Texas, the hedge apple is called a horse apple.
Can you plant an Osage orange?
Each mature Osage orange fruit contains as many as 200 seeds. ... Come spring, the fruit will be mushy and falling apart. Dig out the seeds within and then plant them no more than an inch deep where you want the row of trees to grow. Spacing 3 to 4 feet apart will produce an excellent hedge in just a few years.
Will deer eat Osage orange?
Each time through they seemed to be motivated to partake of an Osage Orange, but they never ate many at one setting. Usually, they would consume a single fruit. On occasion a hungry buck might eat a second. So in general it was the big mature bucks feeding on the Osage Oranges.
How long does an Osage orange tree live?
Osage-orange is a surprising rapid growing tree on the best sites, and has a relatively long life-span (approaching 130 years). It has reached its maximum size and age characteristics outside its Page 3 3 Dr. Kim D. Coder University of Georgia Warnell School native home range on fertile, moist soils.
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