What tree do these come from?

[Rozzie]

That comes from the Bois d’arc tree. These are also called Osage Orange, Hedge Apple, horse apple, and bow wood. (Think bow as in "bow and arrow." Bows were often made of this wood.) Around the area where I now live, they sell the trees simply as "Hedge wood."

You'll also hear "Bodark" in some places by people who can't pronounce the name properly. I believe I've also heard it called "yellow wood" in the past.

This wood was used by Native peoples in some regions for making bows. Because this wood is naturally very rot resistant, i t was used by settlers and farmers for making fence posts, as well. for the same reason, it used to be used for making grave markers. My great great grandfather's grave still has markers made of Bois d'arc, as do many other graves in the cemetery where he is buried. (Others burned in a fire.)

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
They are supposed to keep spiders, moths and ants away.. thats what folks up here sell them for.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Those are horse apples! From the bois d'arc tree (Maclura Pomifera). Lots of them in the Dallas area where I grew up. A gorgeous wood for crafts; I'd love to have one in my backyard.

 

[Mattemma]

Our kids school has these.Called monkey balls here too. I used to bring them home and plant around my yard.Now someome goes to the school and collects them for something otherwise I would gather some more!

 

[mhwc56]

here in Maryland the kids call them monkey balls too.

i have seen WoolyBear catapillars with NO stripes this year....

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

All this talk about cold nasty winter.....PLEASE, just keep it up there. We don't know what to do with it in the deep south....last year was bad enough

 

[shortstaque]

Funny you should ask about these. I've been collecting the Osage Orange fruits when I go for walks. I'm going to try making a hedge with them. Mother Earth News has directions in their current issue for making a bunch of different living fences. http://www.motherearthnews.com/modern-homesteading/living-fences-z10m0sto.aspx It's cheaper and longer lasting than a real fence and provides natural habitat for wildlife, shade for your livestock etc.

I remember exactly where the Osage Orange trees were on our bus route as kids, because the bus would drive over them and squish them and you could smell that distinctive smell. To this day the smell reminds me of being on the school bus in the fall.

 

[Katy]

We still use them as living fences....they have long nasty thorns on them. We heat with wood and burn a lot of it during the winter. It burns nice and hot but does spark a lot.

 

[EweSheep]

Are they anything related to the honey locust tree? Both have thorns, both are excellent wood making/fence posts and pest resistant.

 

[BeccaOH]

Quote:
Ditto around here. Bugs and spiders. I've put them in my basement before (cutting them in half and leaving them whole), but I'm not sure if they helped or not.