Practical
Plants

Maclura pomifera

Osage Orange

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Maclura genus in the family Moraceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Moraceae
Genus
Maclura
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
15 m
Spread
12 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The milky sap can cause dermatitis in some people[9]. An extract and the juice of the fruit is toxic, though a 10% aqueous infusion and extract diluted 1:1 are not toxic[13].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

One report suggests that the fruit is edible[28] but this is surely a mistake - although very large, the fruit is harsh, hard, dry and astringent. The fruit does, however, contain an anti-oxidant which can be used as a food preservative, especially for oils[27]. The heartwood and the root yield a non-toxic antibiotic that is useful as a food preservative[26]. There are no edible uses listed for Maclura pomifera.

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A tea made from the roots has been used as a wash for sore eyes[10][14]. The inedible fruits contain antioxidant and fungicidal compounds[10]. A 10% aqueous infusion and an extract diluted 1:1 have cardiovascular potentialities[13].

Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Ophthalmic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A yellow dye is obtained from the bark of the root and the wood[16][18][25][3][5][14]. Green and orange can also be obtained from it[4]. The sap of the fruit is used as an insect repellent[25]. It is said to be effective against cockroaches[10]. The bark is a source of tannin[23][3]. The plant is often grown as a hedge in N. America and Europe[1][8][17], it is very tolerant of severe pruning[9], makes an effective stock-proof barrier[9] and succeeds in maritime exposure[K]. A hedge in a very exposed position at Rosewarne in N. Cornwall has grown well (1989), though it is very bare in winter[K]. This species is also used in shelterbelt plantings[9]. Wood - coarse-grained, exceedingly hard, heavy, flexible, very strong, very durable, silky, lustrous. It weighs 48lb per cubic foot. One of the most durable woods in N. America, it is seldom used commercially, but is used locally for fence posts,piers, bows etc and makes an excellent fuel[16][23][25][6][9][11][12][15].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Preservative
Product or use
Repellent
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
Southern N. America - Arkansas to Texas.
Habitat
Woods, fields and thickets in rich bottom lands[20][24].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in pots in a cold frame. Pre-soak stored seed for 48 hours in warm water and stratify for 2 months at 4°c then sow in a cold frame[2][9]. Germination is normally good. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. The seed stores for 3 years[2]. If growing larger quantities of plants, it is probably best to sow the seed in an open seed bed[9]. Grow the plants on for a couple of years in the seed bed before planting them out into their permanent positions. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[9]. Cuttings of mature wood, November to January in a frame[2]. Layering in summer[9]. Root cuttings 4cm long in December. Plant horizontally in pots in a greenhouse and plant out as soon as possible. Good percentage[22].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained soil in full sun[9]. Succeeds in poor soils and also in dry ones[8]. Plants are fairly tolerant of maritime exposure[K]. They dislike waterlogged soils[7]. Dormant mature plants are hardy to about -20°c though the young growth in spring can be cut back by late frosts[9] and young plants can be damaged in cold winters[7]. Plants require hot summers to fully ripen their wood if they are to thrive in areas with cold winters[7]. Plants are tolerant of severe pruning[9]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[9]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-292-78958-3

    ↩1↩2

  4. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩

  5. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

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  6. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

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  7. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13

  10. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩

  12. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩

  13. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  14. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  15. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  16. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  17. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  18. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  19. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

  20. Adamson. and Salter. Flora of the Cape Peninsula.

    ↩

  21. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

  22. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  23. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2

  24. Evans. R. L. Handbook of Cultivated Sedums. Science Reviews 1983-00-00

    ↩

  25. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  26. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)

    ↩

  27. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)

    ↩

  28. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (1968-00-00)

    ↩

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