Comments on: Have a Look Inside – Osage Orange Fruit

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:38:11 +0000

Was looking up horse apples, as I moved to Texas and wanted to learn more about the “apple”. I was thrilled to see the Dave Winfield autograph….this Yankee fan appreciated the lesson and with pride loved seeing it as a reference.

By: Out Walking the Dog

Out Walking the Dog — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:45:14 +0000

Hey Amber, I just discovered your wonderful post as I was writing about Osage Orange trees in NYC. I’ve referred readers to check out your post. Psage oranges are naturalized citizens of NYC, and found all over the five boroughs. Weird, right? My post is at http://outwalkingthedog.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/the-curious-osage-orange-tree/ .

By: The Curious Osage Orange Tree « Out walking the dog

The Curious Osage Orange Tree « Out walking the dog — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:11:43 +0000

[...] fruits were still hanging on the branches. (For an Osage Orange fruit dissection, visit Birder’s Lounge.) Osage Orange on the [...]

By: jason

jason — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:27:43 +0000

I laughed my tiny little booty off at this post. Why? I was discussing with a friend of mine recently a certain “horse apple fight” I and several friends had many years ago. We launched horse apples into the air and through the trees in hopes of striking our enemies, several other neighborhood kids.

What made it so funny? As far as I knew, “horse apple” meant the fruit of the osage orange tree. But according to my friend who is a horse aficionado and accomplished, capable equestrian, “horse apple” also means…well…horse droppings. So the whole time I’m talking about throwing horse apples at other kids, she’s thinking I’m referring to throwing horse patties. We were SO not on the same page in that conversation…

By: Amber Coakley

Amber Coakley — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:03:33 +0000

Hi Sandy – I thought the same thing about the horse apple looking like brains.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:50:11 +0000

Thanks — I looked over the excerpt from the page you copied and did indeed see the bit about the seeds indicating it’s a female tree when you open the horse apple.

I also heard that the bois d’arc wood was used in the Old west era when they first started putting up barb-wire fences because it was so sturdy.

One last comment — I think the horse apple looks like a cross between human brains and a green tennis ball.

By: Amber Coakley

Amber Coakley — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:18:38 +0000

Hi Sandy,
I read in my old tree guide that the fruits of female trees may not contain any seeds if pollination is not successful – but I didn’t express that clearly. Here’s a quote from the page that I pictured in the post:

“…and often seedless where fertile trees stand far from staminate trees and thus miss pollenation(sic)of flowers.”

I had fun with the baseball pics!

By: Sandy

Sandy — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:05:20 +0000

I thought only female trees had the horse apples and that the whole horse apple was a result of pollination but I noticed that you said “This horse apple came from a female tree that was successfully pollinated, as evidenced by the presence of the seeds.”

But I am NO tree expert… Will do some more research when I get a chance. I love your comparison with the baseball — size is so relative (something I’ve discovered with ID’ing birds) and as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

By: Amber Coakley

Amber Coakley — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:51:24 +0000

Yep! Glad you like this. I thought about titling it “Alien Autopsy…” but I didn’t know how many people would appreciate the humor. :-0

By: Yosista

Yosista — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:42:23 +0000

Havin’ fun masista?? Awesome tidbits you never thought you’d enjoy! xoxo