| Osage orange- What is it? |
| Thursday, 10 December 2009 19:55 |
 On a recent hike with a friend, we found a strange, bumpy looking, round fruit on the ground. It was about the size of a large apple or an orange, but bright green. My friend was stumped, but I recognized it immediately as the fruit of an Osage orange tree (Maclura pomifera). These fruits are a common find this time of year, though they are not native to the Mid-Atlantic. In fact, I was surprised to find out that Osage orange trees have a very limited natural range of only the Red River valley of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, though they are now widespread over much of the United States.
The fruits of the Osage orange are not only interesting to look at, but many people also like to use them in their homes as a natural air freshener because they have an orange-like aroma. In fact, some people actually use them to repel insects. There is a lot of debate on the validity of this, but some research has shown that chemicals in the fruit may repel cockroaches! Since the Osage orange is a non-native to Maryland, I wouldn’t encourage you to plant it in your yard (look for a native, fruit-bearing tree instead), but they certainly are interesting to stumble upon when out for a hike! Sources: Great Plains Nature Center website Photo Credit- |
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