Maclura pomifera or Osage Orange
This unusual plant was spotted in New Toronto and a fruit and twig brought into the September meeting for identification.
The Osage Orange is a small native tree with an interesting history. It was used for bow making, survey markings, and was a staple of F.D.R.’s Shelterbelt Project of the 1930’s.
The fruit are sometimes called horse apples as this animal is known to enjoy them. But don’t eat it yourself – it’s toxic to humans!