Folks who visit the nature center on Tuesday November 12 will find an Osage Orange fruit in the treasure box. This was brought into the center by one of our families who visit weekly. The following pics will be shared with each person who opens the treasure box.
Last week we had a piece of American Chestnut wood in the box (see last weeks blog for more info).
Osage orange in a native plant that has quite a history. Often called bow wood because of the Native Americans using the strong, straight grained wood for bows. It is also called the hedge apple because when planted close together in a row it became a natural fence to keep cattle in the field. The large thorns on the branches made in almost impossible to pass through.
The fruit is quite unique looking and does have a bit of a citrus smell (my opinion). It is said by some to be a natural insect repellent. Although some scientists have said that is an "old wife's tale"; the US Patent Office has recently approved a patent for an Osage Orange insect repellent formula. Maybe some of those old wife's were smarter than folks think they were.
The Osage tribe of Native Americans lived in the same areas where this tree is plentiful. Which is named after which?
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When planted in an open area, the Osage Orange tree spreads it's limbs
becoming almost as wide as it is tall. |
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| Leaves and fruit of the Osage Orange tree. |
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| Large thorns cause some people to call this the prickly pear tree. |
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| A closeup of the thorn - 3/4 to 1 inch long (ouch). |
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Osage Orange trees planted in a row form a natural fence.
In the 1930's a government program planted thousand of Osage Orange trees in the
mid west as a windbreak to prevent soil erosion and to provide jobs for many |
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| Bow and arrow both handmade from the Osage Orange wood. |
