There are facts and myths about hedge apples.
There are facts and myths about hedge apples.
At farmer's markets, garden centers, and other locations, hedge apples are being sold this time of year.Many people have heard that these fruits can be used as an insect deterrent, but the truth is that many people don't know much about the tree and its fruit.
The Osage-orange is a small to medium-sized tree with a short trunk.The twigs have a one-half inch long spine.The stems have a scent when cut.The male and female flowers are produced on different trees.The flowers appear in May or June.Female trees produce 3- to 5-inch diameter fruit which fall to the ground in September or October.
There is a small area in eastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, and southwestern Arkansas where the orange is native.The tree's common name is the home of the Osage Indians.The settlers found that the orange was easy to transplant and had no serious insect or disease problems.It was planted as a living fence in the Midwest because it provided a barrier to livestock.Many Osage-orange trees can still be found in fence rows despite the development of barbed wire.
The wood is very hard and durable and shrinks or swells very little compared to other trees.Fence posts, treenails, furniture, and archery bows are made from the wood.The wood of the Osage-orange is considered to be the world's finest for bows.The French bios d'arc means "bow wood" and is a common name for this tree.A bright yellow dye can be obtained from the wood.
The fruit of the orange is a nuisance in the home.Most birds and animals find the fruit unpalatable and hedge apples are not an important source of food.The trees provide cover for wildlife.
There is a widespread belief that hedge apples can be used for insect control.Hedge apples can be placed around the foundation or inside the basement to repel insects.Iowa State University toxicologists used to extract compounds from hedge apples.These compounds were found to repel insects when concentrated.
Natural concentrations of the compounds in the fruit were too low to be effective.Don't be fooled into spending a lot of money to use hedge apples as an insect deterrent.
It would be wise to wear gloves if you decide to pick hedge apples or use them as a fall decoration.The juice from the stems and fruit can cause irritation to the skin.
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