Osage Orange; Maclura pomifera


Examples found at Buttermilk Bend trailhead and at first bridge on wheelchair access trail.  Large, sticky, green, orange-like fruit are conspicuous on the tree and ground.

Notes:  This tree grows to from 15 to 30 feet tall and was used as one of the first “living fences” to bound prairie farms.  The Maidu prized the tough wood for bows and war clubs; now used to a limited extent for posts and ties.  It is a relative of the Mulberries and is easily identified by its shiny leaves, thorny twigs and bright orange inner bark.  The unusual, wrinkled, orange-like fruit, 4 to 5 inches in diameter, has a typical citrus odor, but the inside is dry and pulpy, with a milky juice.  It grows from a ball of small green flowers.

Click on the species name to go to USDA for this plant.

Kingdom Plantae -- Plants
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants
        Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants
            Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants
                Class Magnoliopsida -- Dicotyledons
                    Subclass Hamamelididae
                        Order Urticales
                            Family Moraceae – Mulberry family
                                Genus Maclura Nutt. – maclura
                                    Species Maclura pomifera (Raf.) C.K. Schneid. – osage orange

Osage Orange; Maclura pomifera