Osage OrangeMaclura Pomifera (Raf.) Schneid.

By: Rachel Finke

Classification:

Kingdom Plantae Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular Plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta Seed Plants

Division Magnoliophyta Flowering Plants

Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons

Subclass Hamamelididae

Order Urticales

Family Moraceae Mulberry Family

Genus Maclura Nutt. Maclura

Species Maclura Pomifera (Raf.) Schneid

Osage Orange

Osage Orange (1)

Osage Orange trees grow to be medium-sized. They have stiff and spiny branches with a short trunk. The tree crowns out in an irregular shape at the top. (2) You can often recognize these trees by looking for glossy, lance-shaped leaves or stout thorns. The easiest way to differentiate between a male and a female Osage Orange tree is whether or not they bear fruit. Only female trees will have fruit. (3)

Osage Orange Shape, Form and Type

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Osage Orange trees have an orange-brown bark. The bark has many ridges with a scaly texture. (2)

Osage Orange Bark

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Twigs of this tree are slender and contain a milky sap. They start out green but soon change to an orange-brown coloring. Each twig has a thorn located at each leaf scar. (2)

Osage Orange Twig & Bud

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Osage Orange leaves are simple and alternate. They are pinnately veined with a present margin and are usually anywhere from two to five inches long. (2) But they won’t exceed eight inches. These leaves have a tapered tip. (3)

Leaves of an Osage Orange Tree

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The flower of an Osage Orange tree are dioecious. Flowers can appear anywhere between late spring and early summer. Females bear dense and round clusters, while the male bear in subglobose racemes. (2)

Osage Orange Flower

Male (Top) Female (Bottom)

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Osage Orange fruit bear a sticky, white juice within them. The diameter of these fruits can reach six inches. They are very dense and fairly large. (3) They mature in the early fall and have an outer surface that resembles “brain”. They also have a distinctive citrus smell to them. (2)

Fruit of an Osage Orange

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These trees are a common sight along the Great Plains area. They are found primarily in the Red River Valley area, though. (3) These trees are native in North America. (2)

Habitat and Range of the Osage Orange

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These trees were often planted as “living fences” or hedges. They are also used as a source of very strong fence posts now. An Osage Orange is a huge component of windbreaks and shelterbelts. (3) The wood is also used when making furniture, treenails and archery bows. They also provide for a safe haven for wildlife. (6)

The Uses of an Osage Orange

1. USDA Plant Database. Plants Profile. Maclura pomifera (Raf.) C.K. Schneid. Osage Orange. June 23,2010.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MAPO

2. Virginia Tech. Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. Osage Orange. Moraceae Maclura pomifera (Raf.) C.K. Schneid. June 23,2010.

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=57

3. Osage Orange. June 23,2010.http://www.gpnc.org/osage.htm

4. Osage Orange Bark Image. June 23,2010.http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=mapo_001_ahp.jpg

5. Maclura Pomifera. June 23,2010.http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/mapo.htm

6. Insects, Spiders, Mice & More. University of Nebraska Lincoln. Facts and Myths of Hedge Apples. June 23,2010.

http://lancaster.unl.edu/enviro/pest/nebline/hedgeapple.htm

Text References

1. USDA Plant Database. Plants Profile. Maclura pomifera (Raf.) C.K. Schneid. Osage Orange. June 23,2010.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MAPO

2. Virginia Tech. Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. Osage Orange. Moraceae Maclura pomifera (Raf.) C.K. Schneid. June 23,2010.

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=57

3. Osage Orange. June 23,2010.http://www.gpnc.org/osage.htm

4. Osage Orange Bark Image. June 23,2010.http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=mapo_001_ahp.jpg

5. Maclura Pomifera. June 23,2010.http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/mapo.htm

Figure Reference