Handbook of Trees of the Xoktiikux S' 



I'ATES AND 



Can, 



20J 



The Osiige Orange attains tlie height of 50 

 or UU ft. wlien growing in tlie forest. When 

 growing apart from other trees it has a short 

 thick trunk from 18 in. to 3 ft. in diameter, 

 and then divides into a few hirge limbs which 

 send out many commonly curved branches and 

 form a symmetrical rounded or dome-shaped 

 top, with lower branches drooping nearlj' to 

 the ground. The bark of trunk is deeply fur- 

 rowed and of an orange brown color, and the 

 stiff branches are beset with many short thick 

 axillary spur-like spines. Its lustrous leaves 

 and good habit of growth make it a desirable 

 tree for ornamental purposes, for which use, 

 however, the pistillate trees are preferable, as 

 their beauty is greatly enhanced in summer by 

 their large conspicuous orange-like fruit. 



The Osage Orange is excellently adapted to 

 use in hedges and is extensively planted for 

 that purpose. Through this agencj' it has be- 

 come widely naturalized, over a considerable 

 portion of the United States, though inhabit- 

 ing naturally only the limited area shown on 

 our map. 



The wood is heavy, a cubic foot when ahso 

 lutely dry weighing 48.21 pounds, very strong 

 and durable, and is valued for railway ties. 

 fence posts, the hubs of wheels, etc. Formerly 

 it was a favorite wood with the Indiins, of 

 the region in which it grows, for their bows, 

 and from this fact it is commonly called in.those 

 regions " Bow-v:ood " or, bj' the French in- 

 habitants, " Bois d'Arc." - 



For botanical characters see description of 

 the genus, this being the only species. 3 



1. Syn. Uaclura aurantiaca Nutt. 



2. A. W., XII, 291. 



3. For genus see p. 434. 



