by
bjt » Sun Sep 25, 2011 11:41 pm
No crab apples in this area, so far. But, many
'horse apples' which are known by the other names, i.e.
'hedge apples', 'osage orange' & others They are ripe now with a fluorescent green color
During the past couple of weeks, I discovered that the trees were very helpful to many settlers in this area. They were planted for wind breaks & fences. The wood is pretty & desirable. Currently, it is used for bows, fence posts, & decorative items.
The
'horse apple' trees were successful for fences because they grow in tangled masses with many discouraging thorns. (The dead branch in the image shows the long thorns.)
There are still remnants of fences on farm land (upper right image) & along the roads (lower left image).
I've know 'horse apples' just about all my life, but never knew until now that they were anything more than a nuisance. When I was a girl, boys threw them at everything ---- even girls
They hurt!
better view:
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pictu ... WaDZpCCOj0
- temp-147-apple-bow.jpg (164.45 KiB) Viewed 528 times
The squirrel is about the only animal interested in eating the 'apple' --- & they love them!
Template #147 by Julie --- thanks
more facts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maclura_pomifera