Osage-orange

Description:

Sometimes known as hedge-apple,Horse-apple, Bois d'arc, Bodark, or Bodock. And also Brain Fruit because that's what they look like. Though found in the great plain states, they have been planted in other areas. The trees can grow to about 40 to 60 ft. Leaves oval shaped and are arranged alternately on the slender branches. The fruit is a compound fruit meaning it isn't really just one fruit but was formed by a cluster of flowers called an inflorescence, such as pineapple, fig, mulberry. The flowers of a female tree don't need to be pollinated to bear fruit, it just won't have the seeds. The fruit is not edible but the hard to get at seeds are. It is believed the Osage fruit will repel spiders and other insects.

Habitat:

Prefers a deep and fertile soil but it has adapted to many conditions and is hardy over most of the United States. Used mostly as a hedge plant in gardens.

Notes:

This one I found at the edge of farm land near a residential community.