Osage Orange Tree

Fall

During the Fall, the tree starts to lose all its fruit. The leaves take on this yellow to bright-yellow color in the fall. The leaves change colors and drop from trees much later than other trees, usually in November or December.

Winter

In the winter, the Osage Orange tree loses all its leaves and fruit. People find most interest in the tree during the winter because the bark turns into a gorgeous dark orange-brown color with scaly ridges.

Summer

Once the summer comes around, the leaves grow back and restore their green color. The fruit starts growing back around September. The bark is gray-brown and sometimes orange-brown.

History of the Osage Orange tree

The Osage Orange tree also known as Maclura pomifera, can be found in 41 different states. The tree got its name from the American Osage tribe. They would use the wood for their bows. French settlers called it the Bois d'Arc (bow wood) after the American Osage tribe used the wood to fashion their bows.

What is the human use of the Osage Orange tree?

The native people of the Shawnee and Wyandotte tribe used the Osage branch wood to make their highly prized bows. The bows were the prime items of barter for the tribes. They would also use it for war clubs and tomahawks handles.

Why is it important?

The wood of the Osage tree is not as important for humans as it used to be. Because of its strength, people would use the wood to create wagon wheel rims and hubs. The tree is important for animals because of the fruit. Animals like white-tailed deer consume the fruit.

Risk the Osage Orange tree faces

Osage Orange rows have been disappearing in the Midwest. The trees are no longer needed for fencing or other uses. Recently, scientists have found compounds that may be used for food processing, pesticides, antibiotics, and other medical products.

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