Osage orange—A potential source of edible oil and other industrial raw materials

The ()sage orange is a nat ive tree of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, and now grows extensively throughout the southern, midwestern, and eastern states. I t is a member of the mu lbe r ry family (Moraeeae) and is known botanical ly as Maclura pomifera (also Maclura aurantiaca, Toxylon pomiferum, and Ioxylon pomiferum). Locally it is known by several other common names such as Bets d 'Arc , Hedge apple, I lorse apple, etc. I t is planted pr incipal ly for ornamenta l purposes and as a hedge fence. ()sage Indians used the young t runks of this tree to make bows because of its unusual toughness and resiliency. They also used the sticky resins of the f ru i t as an adhesive t'or war paint, hence came the names Bets d 'Arc and Osage orange. Mell (14) has wri t ten a br ief history on Osage orange wood.