In some necklaces, colorful feathers are attached to the inside of large, glossy seeds which have been cut in half. Kansas Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff. The beautiful, black hardwood called ebony also belongs to the genus Diospyros (D. ebenum). Maclura pomifera, commonly known as the Osage orange, horse apple, hedge, or hedge apple tree is a small deciduous tree or large shrub, typically growing to 8 to 15 metres (30–50 ft) tall.The distinctive fruit, a multiple fruit, is roughly spherical, bumpy, 8 to 15 centimetres (3–6 in) in diameter, and turns bright yellow-green in the fall.. The juicy "shrapnel" consists of fleshy seeds and sections of the leathery husk. This huge fruit (it’s the largest tree-born fruit in the world and can reach up to 80 pounds in weight) is one of the most versatile, good for both savory and sweet preparations. However, the naturally occurring concentrations of these compounds in the fruit are far too low to make the fruit an effective insect repellent. They feature a hairy, four-lobed calyx; the four stamens are inserted opposite the lobes of calyx, on the margin of a thin disk. Pomelos have yellow or greenish-yellow … it a perfectly ripe red roma from the outside there was nothing wrong with it. The French word for a pomegranate is "grenade," which also refers to a hand-thrown bomb with deadly metal fragments (shrapnel) instead of seeds. As a general rule, crabapple trees are smaller than regular apple trees, and they may develop twisted, gnarled branches and thorns. An interesting drink called "matrimony" is prepared by scooping out the inside pulp of a star apple and adding it to a glass of sour orange juice. Schneid.) [17], The genus Maclura is named in honor of William Maclure[9] (1763–1840), a Scottish-born American geologist. For consumers, this means an apple that will give them a zesty crunch after hours in a lunchbox, days in a fruit bowl, or even weeks in a refrigerator. See Howell Sonoda's Dried 'Hatchiya' Persimmons Right: Japanese 'Fuyu' persimmon (Diospyros kaki). [19] It has since become widely naturalized in the United States and Ontario, Canada. "hedge apple") as a hedge to exclude free-range livestock from vegetable gardens and corn fields. Each flower has a hairy four-lobed calyx with thick, concave lobes that invest the ovary and enclose the fruit. As a dioecious plant, the inconspicuous pistillate (female) and staminate (male) flowers are found on different trees. The leaves are 8 to 13 centimetres (3–5 in) long and 5 to 8 centimetres (2–3 in) wide, and are thick, firm, dark green, shining above, and paler green below when full grown. It is listed incorrectly in some references as Calocarpum mammosum. Medium in size and almost iridescent yellow skin with russeting at the stem. The calyx is cut away on right fruit to show the numerous stamens. "[3], The Comanche also used this wood for their bows. Armstrong. The specific epithet pomifera means "fruit-bearing". The cylindrical pits (endocarps) resemble those of date palms. The fine-grained wood from this tree is used for furniture and cabinetry. Go To Biology GEE WHIZ TRIVIA Page The Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki), a tree in the ebony family (Ebenaceae), is native to eastern Asia. "Heating With Wood: Species Characteristics and Volumes", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maclura_pomifera&oldid=996410801, Trees of the Great Lakes region (North America), Plants used in traditional Native American medicine, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 December 2020, at 12:49. Jicama: the Healthy, Versatile Vegetable that Tastes Like a Fruit and Acts Like a Water Chestnut (Plus Two Bonus Recipes!) [31] The moisture content of fresh fruits is about 80%. As the fruit ripens, it will develop a far more tropical flavor profile, with notes of pineapple and strawberry. Arnoldia 61, no. Their color is 60-85 percent red … The leaf axils contain formidable spines which when mature are about 2.5 centimetres (1 in) long. [29], Osajin and pomiferin are isoflavones present in the wood and fruit in an approximately 1:2 ratio by weight, and in turn comprise 4-6% of the weight of dry fruit and wood samples. The name is a little misleading because they aren't exactly black, but … The five cells are silky-white within, and are filled with a mass of firm, cream-coloured pulp, containing about three seeds each. [3] A disjunct population also occurred in the Chisos Mountains of Texas. It has a specific gravity of 0.7736 or 773.6 kg/m3 (48.29 lb/cu ft). Apple bananas are stout and plump, with a thick taut peel. Dragon fruit The globose or pear-shaped fruit (berry) is about four inches (10 cm) long with a thin skin (exocarp) and very sweet, orange or yellow pulp containing several large, shiny brown seeds. This is another compact example of a Crabapple Tree, growing to between 10 and 15 feet. Rambutans are piled with the other fruit in Chinese markets when it is in season. The distinctive fruit, a multiple fruit, is roughly spherical, bumpy, 8 to 15 centimetres (3–6 in) in diameter, and turns bright yellow-green in the fall. [6], The fruits are consumed by black-tailed deer in Texas and fox squirrels in the Midwest, who drop them to crack open. Zestar!® Apples are nice and round, with an average diameter of approximately 3 inches. 2 (2001): 14-21. It is cultivated and naturalized in Argentina, Venezuela and Colombia, along the Atlantic coast of Central A… Dragon fruits are the big red fruits above the big yellow papayas. Jujube trees are very productive and in the fruiting season they are often found bearing hundreds of fruits. It has a soft, yet crisp flesh with a sweet taste and a slightly tart finish. The calyx is cut away on right fruit to show the numerous stamens. 8. Under the hard, lumpy skin is the fragrant, whitish flesh of the fruit, which … An interesting drink called "matrimony" is prepared by scooping out the inside pulp of a star apple and adding it to a glass of sour orange juice. The lychee is one of the popular fruits in Vietnam, particularly in the beginning of summer. Return To Economic Plant Families Page The sweet dried fruit is delicious and tastes like candy. The plant is native of Surinam, Guyana, French Guiana, southern Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay where it grows in wild thickets on the banks of the Pilcomayo River. Whether you are on four legs or two, the red color can be really appealing, Evans said. LEMNACEAE ON-LINE Page The exterior is green and looks scaled, but the luscious fruit can be described as a combination of tropical flavors like banana, coconut, strawberry and mango. There is a lot of variation in color, size, shape and taste between the different Jujube varieties. "Seed Dispersal in Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera) by Squirrels (Sciurus spp.)." The mature multiple fruit's size and general appearance resembles a large, yellow-green orange, 10 to 13 centimetres (4–5 in) in diameter, with a roughened and tuberculated surface. Farmer Howell Sonoda standing behind his new crop of air-dried 'Hatchiya' persimmons (Diospyros kaki). It is remarkably free from insect predators and fungal diseases. 2 (2018): 312-317. Mealy particles from the mesocarp are visible as white flecks in this photograph. Despite the name "Osage orange",[3] it is not related to the orange. The white sapote (Casimiroa edulis) is another interesting fruit that belongs to the citrus family (Rutaceae). The best fitting model for syncarp size evolution indicated an increase in both syncarp size and the rate of syncarp size evolution in the Osage orange lineage. [10] The fruit has a cucumber-like flavor. The fruits secrete a sticky white latex when cut or damaged. The fruit has been cultivated for over 3000 years, but has a short life span of only 30 – 50 years. See A Chart Of World's Hardwoods We also find these pigments in cranberries, raspberries, cherries, cabbage, and other red or purple foods. Persimmon (Ebony) Family (Ebenaceae) Pomegranate (Punica granatum), showing persistent calyx at top of fruit. Cut it in half and eat with a spoon, but be aware the large, dark seeds are quite hard and inedible. They are grown by cross-polinating plum and peach trees. [3] They are generally set up green because the dried wood is too hard to reliably accept the staples used to attach the fencing to the posts. Jicama, a tan, brown or gray root vegetable that looks somewhat like a turnip or large radish, may not yet have caught your eye in the produce section, but it definitely deserves a second (and third) look. Both species belong to the genus Diospyros in the ebony family (Ebenaceae). It belongs to the sapodilla family (Sapotaceae), along with the sapodilla or chicle tree (Manilkara zapota). The slimy seeds are a delicious addition to fruit salad. The pomegranate tree is native to Africa and the Near East. [36], The Comanche tribe historically used a root/water infusion for eye conditions. They cannot be … Both species belong to the genus Diospyros in the ebony family (Ebenaceae). The dried, datelike fruits of a Russian olive called "Mountain ash" (Elaeagnus angustifolia) for sale in a Middle Eastern market. The fruit is technically a leathery-skinned berry containing many seeds, each surrounded by a fleshy, juicy aril. [6], Maclura pomifera has been known by a variety of common names in addition to Osage orange, including hedge apple, horse apple, the French bois d'arc and English transliterations: bodark and bodock, also translated as "bow-wood"; monkey ball, monkey brains, yellow-wood and mock orange. cashew apple = cashew fruit = marañon = merey = caju = cajueiro Notes: This Brazilian fruit looks like a squishy apple with an odd-looking stem growing out of it. It is the variety most commonly dried. Its dense grain structure makes for good tonal properties. Note the puplish skin and star-shaped arrangement of the seeds when viewed in cross section. [5] Due to its latex secretions and woody pulp, the fruit is typically not eaten by humans and rarely by foraging animals, giving it distinction as an anachronistic "ghost of evolution". [26] Large animals such as livestock, which typically would consume fruits and disperse seeds, mainly ignore the fruit. A nother interesting tree in the Sapotaceae is the star apple (Chrysophyllum cainito), a shade tree native to tropical America. [3][35] Although its wood is commonly knotty and twisted, straight-grained Osage orange timber makes good bows, as used by Native Americans. [37][38][39], Unlike many woods, Osage orange wood is durable, making good fence posts. Pomegranate Family (Punicaceae) The compound fruit is a syncarp of numerous small drupes, in which the carpels (ovaries) have grown together. The plant has significant potential to invade unmanaged habitats.[3]. Branches contain a yellow pith, and are armed with stout, straight, axillary spines. [6] The seeds are oblong. The American Midland Naturalist 180, no. Right: Japanese 'Fuyu' persimmon (Diospyros kaki). The light, cream colored flesh's texture is firm when young growing to be tender and creamy when ripe. "Anachronistic fruits and the ghosts who haunt them." They can be eaten raw but are commonly stewed and eaten as a dessert. This orange fruit has rough, spiky skin and looks like an alien seedling. See Grenade Drift Fruit And Real Grenade According to Lewis's letter, the samples were donated by "Mr. Peter Choteau, who resided the greater portion of his time for many years with the Osage Nation." Leaves are arranged alternately in a slender growing shoot 90 to 120 centimetres (3–4 ft) long. It has an additional feature of being fruit-free, so if you like the look of Crabapple Trees but don’t want the clean-up that goes along with a fruit-bearing tree, then this could be the one for you. [3] The roots are thick, fleshy, and covered with bright orange bark. by www.SixWise.com. Rambutans are the third strangest fruit. Those cuttings did not survive. "[15] The trees are also known as "bodark," "bodarc," or "bodock" trees, most likely originating as a transliteration or corruption of "bois d'arc. 21. It also Browned really fast after I cut open. The juicy white center has a lot of vitamin C and natural sweetness; it can be served raw or making a cool beverage by adding sugar … Hebrews decorated their buildings with pomegranate motifs, and the beautiful, many-seeded fruits became associated with a symbol of fertility and abundance. Some, like the Red or the Golden Delicious, are tried-and-true favorites in the United States; others, such as Cameo and Fuji, are relative newcomers to the apple scene. Each small drupe is oblong, compressed and rounded; they contain a milky latex which oozes when the fruit is damaged or cut. Pomegranate (Punica granatum), showing persistent calyx at top of fruit. It is eaten fresh and used in breads, preserves and desserts, such as ice cream and mousse. [6], Bodark fruit burrowed into by animal eating seeds, Osage orange's pre-Columbian range was largely restricted to a small area in what is now the United States, namely the Red River drainage of Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas, as well as the Blackland Prairies and post oak savannas. [3] Osage orange has been planted in all the 48 contiguous states of the United States and in southeastern Canada. A very similar tree called eggfruit or canistel (Pouteria campechiana) is native to the Caribbean region, Mexico and central America. Chayote. Ovaries are superior, ovate, compressed, green, and crowned by a long slender style covered with white stigmatic hairs. [19], The largest known Osage orange tree is located at River Farm, in Alexandria, Virginia, and is believed to have been a gift from Thomas Jefferson. Other colors of this fruit … In fact, they're roughly pear-shaped or bell-shaped. [31], The Osage orange is commonly used as a tree row windbreak in prairie states, which gives it one of its colloquial names, "hedge apple". They were already part of the local diet when Columbus visited these islands in the late fifteenth century. Return To WAYNE'S WORD Home Page The fruits of California holly (Heteromeles arbutifolia) compared with a U.S. penny. Go To The The French word for a pomegranate is "grenade," which also refers to a hand-thrown bomb that scatters deadly metal fragments (shrapnel) instead of seeds. Opal Apple. Maclura pomifera, commonly known as the Osage orange, horse apple, hedge, or hedge apple tree is a small deciduous tree or large shrub, typically growing to 8 to 15 metres (30–50 ft) tall. Chayote. For other uses, see, Ecological aspects of historical distribution. [30] Primary components of fresh fruit include pectin (46%), resin (17%), fat (5%), and sugar (before hydrolysis, 5%). According to botanists, though, the grayish "stem" is actually the fruit, and it encloses the kidney-shaped cashew nut that we're familiar with. Although the flowering is dioecious, the pistillate tree when isolated will still bear large oranges, perfect to the sight but lacking the seeds. The creamy texture of this high-altitude fruit lends to its other name, custard apple. I think that you probably mean a nectarine. Another fruit with a similar common name to the mammee apple is the mamey sapote (Pouteria sapota), a widespread tropical American tree. In Asia, pomegranates were offered to wedding guests who threw them on the floor of the honeymoon suite, shattering the fruits and scattering the bright red seeds. The foliage and general habit superficially resembles the evergreen magnolia of the southeastern United States. The thorny Osage orange tree was widely naturalized throughout the United States until this usage was superseded by the invention of barbwire in 1874. [24], The fruit is not poisonous to humans or livestock, but is not preferred by them,[25] because it is mostly inedible due to a large size (about the diameter of a softball), and hard, dry texture. The fruit is technically a leathery-skinned berry containing many seeds, each surrounded by a fleshy, juicy aril. A rich custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but there are occasional wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherry-wine, and other incongruous dishes. Pistillate flowers are borne in a dense spherical many-flowered head which appears on a short stout peduncle from the axils of the current year's growth. Two persimmon cultivars: The persimmons pointed at one end are 'Hatchiya' (left), and the flattened, tomato-like one is 'Fuyu' (upper right). All text material & images on these pages copyright © W.P. The chayote looks a bit like a pear on a real bad day, but is actually a fruit that is native to … (Moraceae) and the Origin and Early Spread of “Hedge Apple” Folklore,", Murphy, Serena, Virginia Mitchell, Jessa Thurman, Charli N. Davis, Mattew D. Moran, Jessica Bonumwezi, Sophie Katz, Jennifer L. Penner, and Matthew D. Moran. Good Eye Appeal. Pomegranate (Punica granatum), showing persistent calyx at top of fruit. When young the Apple banana is both tangy and sweet with apple nuances. [10], American settlers used the Osage orange (i.e. The fruit looks a bit like a pine cone, and are about 10 cm in diameter. Palmer and Fowler's Fieldbook of Natural History 2nd edition, rates Osage orange wood as being at least twice as hard and strong as white oak (Quercus alba). Crossbills are said to peck the seeds out. Under severe pruning, the hedge apple sprouted abundant adventitous shoots from its base; as these shoots grew, they became interwoven and formed a dense, thorny barrier hedge. [25][41][42] In 2004, the EPA insisted that a website selling M. pomifera fruits online remove any mention of their supposed pesticidal properties as false advertisements. [16] They liked the wood because it was strong, flexible and durable,[3] and the bush/tree was common along river bottoms of the Comanchería. They have a roughened outer coat (exocarp) and a thick, firm, apricot-colored flesh (mesocarp) containing several large, roughened seeds. Left: Black sapote (Diospyros digyna), a Mexican fruit tree related to the persimmon. Don’t be intimidated—the fruit inside is sweet and fresh with a flavor most similar to cucumber or kiwi. [6] However, a 2015 study indicated that Osage orange seeds are not effectively spread by horses or elephant species. Mature fruits have a dark, purplish skin (exocarp) surrounding a pinkish flesh with a star-shaped arrangement of seeds when viewed in cross section. The sweet fruits are eaten raw and in desserts and salads. The calyx is cut away on right fruit to show the numerous stamens. Other fruits in different plant families are also named sapote, such as the mamey sapote and white sapote. Like true apples, the freshly-cut fruit readily becomes oxidized and turns yellowish-brown in the air. In form they are simple, a long oval terminating in a slender point. Ripe mammee apples are often seen at the marketplace in Caribbean countries. Some historians believe that the high value this wood had to Native Americans throughout North America for the making of bows, along with its small natural range, contributed to the great wealth of the Spiroan Mississippian culture that controlled all the land in which these trees grew. orientalis), a variety of Russian olive sold in markets of Turkey and Iran. Pomelo (pummelo): An ancestor of today’s grapefruit, the pomelo is a citrus fruit that looks like a super-sized grapefruit with a narrower end.It originated in Southeast Asia and today is grown in California. Branchlets are at first bright green and pubescent; during their first winter they become light brown tinged with orange, and later they become a paler orange brown. In some areas of the Caribbean, an aromatic liqueur (eau de creole) is distilled from the strong-scented flowers. The drupaceous, datelike fruits have a dry, mealy mesocarp, and a shiny, brownish-yellow outer skin (exocarp). Jujube is a tropical fruit which looks and tastes like small apples. The fruit has a red brown color and is about 3-4 cm in diameter, with 5 … In 1810, Bradbury relates that he found two Maclura pomifera trees growing in the garden of Pierre Chouteau, one of the first settlers of Saint Louis, apparently the same person. A star apple (Chrysophyllum cainito). Their skin is edible, waxy and often deep red. [10] A thornless male cultivar of the species exists and is vegetatively reproduced for ornamental use. 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