Trees of the World

 

English name: OSAGE ORANGE alt
Polish name:   ŻÓŁTNICA POMARAŃCZOWA
Latin name: Maclura pomifera (Raf.) C.K.Schneid.
Natural habitat:

southern regions of the United States

Height:

in its natural habitat: up to 20 m, in Poland it is much lower and very often grows as a shrub

Characteristics: The tree crown is low and asymmetric. The wood is yellow and the bark is fibrous with deep cracks. A spine is found on the axil of some leaves. Inconspicuous flowers appear in June. The tree is dioecious, so the fruits appear only on female individuals. Globular multiple fruit, about 12 cm in diameter is similar to orange fruit (but is inedible). Its color is yellow green and when damaged it secretes a white sticky juice which acts as an insect repellent. The Osage Orange in our Arboretum regularly bears fruit, which rarely happens in Poland.
Additional information: The tree is susceptible to frost, should be planted only in western regions of Poland. Native Americans used Osage Orange wood to make bows and tomahawks, its leaves were used as food for silkworms. Due to its hard wood and thick thorns, The Osage Orange was used in the United States to make protective hedges.

 

 

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