Plant · GBIF taxon 2984580
Osage Orange
Maclura pomiferaAlso known as Hedge Apple, Bodark, Bowwood, Horse Apple
Osage Orange produces heavy, brain-textured green fruits that drop in autumn and release a sticky white latex when cut. Sharp, stout thorns armor the branches, which historically made this resilient tree the preferred living fence across American agricultural lands before the invention of barbed wire. The rot-resistant, vivid yellow wood remains renowned for exceptional density and flexibility.
Deciduous TreeThornyFruit Bearing
1 / 7—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthetic
Predators
- Squirrels
- Cattle
- White-tailed Deer
ThreatsLand clearing and clearing of historic hedgerows
HabitatsRiparian corridors, fence rows, pastures, and disturbed woodlands
Life span75–150 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyMoraceae
- SpeciesMaclura pomifera
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Milky latex sap and sharp thorns can cause irritation; wild plant parts should never be ingested.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look for heavy, yellow-green fruits scattered under female trees in autumn.
- Handling: Wear thick leather gloves when working around branches to protect against thorns.
- Identification: Notice the deeply furrowed orange-brown bark on mature trunks.
Hedgerow Companion (c) Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Family Relative (c) Drepanostoma, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Drepanostoma · cc-by
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