jbyrd88888

I can't delete this thread? only posts ! ?
Raining outside… time to share...something...

With so little accurate and conflicting data available on the internet I think I'd like to share my experience with the (Maclura pomifera), Hedge Apple, Osage orange, hedge apple, horse apple, monkey ball, monkey brain, bois d'arc, bodark, or bodock

I have only managed to germinate 2 seeds of a fruit containing at least 100 seeds. Each popped out of the soil (greenhouse) in January within a week of each other. Each grew about 3 foot tall in 4 months.

1. Of these two plants, one has (miracle-grow mixture) 30-50 flowers, has green leafs and a spiny main stem (not thorns yet). Each flower contains 5 white petals surrounding a yellow center of parts. 3-4 flowers are on each branchlets (with no leafs) that attaches to a parent branch with alternating leaves. Some have already developed small fruit and No flowers have fell off.






2. The other plant is of similar height, planted in a ‘Sta-green’ soil mixture and ‘lighter’ color green all over, with a ‘smooth’ main stem. This one shows No sign of male or female parts. Yellow and green lines run vertically up the main stem (possibly showing deficiency, doubtful)




Both plants have branches that connect to a main branch with a touch of purple on the upper side where connected. Both have similar lobed leafs.

I hope I have identified this tree correctly but, as far as my newbie powers can tell..... I have snatched seeds from my local park and upon germination till now I noticed different strange growth habits. This may just show in immature specimens. The wikipedia.org and other sites (showing non or less-lobed leafs and different flowers?) and other very misleading facts… I was told this citrus fruit is not edible but later read the seeds can be separated from the fruit and eaten fresh or dried; with a taste similar to sunflower seeds.
Sometime this week I’ll return to the donor tree, that supplied me the seeds, and compare pictures of leaves. I did prepare a couple air-layer that did not take. I admit, as you can read, I am no expert with the terms of a plant but still fascinated.

I have noted the wood of this tree is extremely hard and has many uses. The fruit of this was thought to be poisonous, but found later being consumed by squirrels and was only choking farm animals to death. They were thought to repel insects but later researched as only useful to smash bugs with. I did read: The trees become sexually mature by age 10 and there is no easy way to determine the gender prior to then, but I proved this inaccurate with one of mine only 2 months old. I will be amazed if I find seeds in my fruit!
I’ll add more to this post and I welcome anyone to add experiences, info and advice.
Such an ODD plant!
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I figured out this almost CAN'T be a Maclura pomifera soooo what iz it?
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Wow I haven't ever noticed these in the woods but a couple species of Solanum americanum Sure looks exactly like it! THANK YOU MUCH! I'm glad I haven't tried eating it or in a place my dog my try... IDK what I will do with this now....hmmm I'll head back to the park sometime and grab some cuttings to root, my air-layers did not take.

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●○● UPDATED 6-21-2015 ■□■

Dangermouse01

Probably something in the SOLANACEAE family (tomato, eggplant, NIGHTSHADE).

Solanum - Genus Page - ISB: Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

I think I get the same thing growing in my yard, I treat it as a weed.

DM