The genus Maclura contains about 12 species native to North America [1], with the rest in tropical America and Africa. The genus Maclura is dedicated to William Maclure (1763–1840), an American geologist, while the species epithet pomifera means bearing pomes or apples, in allusion to the large, spherical fruits.
Other Common Names: bodare us, bodark, bodeck,
bodock, bois d'arc, bowwood,
geelhout, hedge, hedge apple, hedge-plant, horse apple, maclura,
mock orange, naranjo chino, osage, osage apple-tree, rootwood,
wild orange, yellow-wood.
Distribution: Native to Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, but since escaped and naturalized throughout the eastern and northwestern United States.
The Tree: Osage orange is a medium-size tree with thorns, which grows in bottom lands. It attains a height of 60 ft (18 m) and a diameter of 3 ft (1 m). The bark has an orange cast and was used in making khaki dye during World War I. Osage orange produces large spherical fruits the size of large grapefruits.
General Wood Characteristics: The sapwood
of osage orange is narrow and light
yellow, while the heartwood is golden to bright orange, which
darkens upon exposure. The heartwood can also contain red streaks.
The wood has no characteristic odor or taste. It is very hard,
heavy, tough, resilient and takes a high luster. It is ring porous
and commonly confused with black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia).
Weighta
Weight
Moisture Specific lb/ft3 kg/m3
content gravity
Green 0.76 62 993
12% 0.85 53 849
Ovendry 0.84 NA NA
aReferences: specific gravity, green and
ovendry (59); specific gravity, 12%, (90);
weight, (90).
Mechanical propertiesa
Property Green Dry
MOE 1.33 106 9.170 GPa NA NA
lbf/in2
MOR 13.7 103 94.462 MPa NA NA
lbf/in2
C| | 5.81 103 40.060 MPa NA NA
lbf/in2
C 2.26 103 15.583 MPa NA NA
lbf/in2
WML 37.9 103 261.321 NA NA
lbf/in3 kJ/m3
Hardness 2,040 lbf 9073.92 N NA NA
Shear| | NA NA NA NA
aReference (59).
Drying and shrinkagea,b
Percentage of shrinkage
(green to final moisture
content)
Type of 0% MC 6% MC 20% MC
shrinkage
Tangential NA NA NA
Radial NA NA NA
Volumetric 9.2 7.4 3.1
aThe wood of osage orange seasons well
and thereafter maintains dimensional
stability well.
bReference (90).
Kiln drying schedulea
4/4, 5/4, 8/4 10/4 12/4 16/4
Conditio 6/4 stock stock stock stock
n stock
Standard T6-A2 T3-A1 NA NA NA
aReferences (6, 86).
Working Properties: Osage orange is difficult to work because of its hardness. It holds glue and screws well, but it is difficult to nail.
Durability: Rated as exceptionally resistant to heartwood decay; one of the most durable woods in North America.
Preservation: No information available at this time.
Uses: Fuel wood, fence posts, game calls, smoking pipes, artificial limbs, crutches, insulator pins, wheel rims and hubs of farm wagons, railroad ties, treenails, machinery parts, archery bows (Native Americans), dye from roots, windrows and hedges.
Toxicity: The sap can cause dermatitis (105).
Additional Reading: 11, 29, 55, 68, 74. 55, 66, 68, 74, 79. 28, 29, 42, 43, 44, 48, 50, 55, 56, 68, 72, 73, 74, 79, 92, 97, 102. 74, 75, 77, 99, 106. 101.