Grid reference | ST 18609 78992 |
Common name | Osage orange |
Alternative name | Maclura aurantiaca |
Origin | Central USA |
Deciduous | Yes |
Status | Rare |
Status | GB Champion 2013 |
Marked on | 1947 chart of Pinetum |
Tree trail | Post 13 |
Height | 15M in February 2015 |
Girth | 252cm in February 2015 |
Reference | 040 |
This tree is to be found towards the south east end of the Botanic Garden, beside the Lake Road East railings. The species is dioecious (individual trees are either male or female) and this is a female tree. It produces fruits but, in the absence of a male tree, no seeds. By late September 2015 most of the fuit had dropped to the ground. The fruit on the ground was roughly spherical, typically 60mm diameter and weighing 92gm.
General tree description
Maclura pomifera grows to a height of around 15 metres and has a rounded crown. It has grey-brown bark with deep red-brown or orange fissures. The leaves are ovate, 5 to 8 cm long and dark glossy green. Flowers appear in early summer and female trees produce orange-like fruits up to 13cm across, initially green but ripening to yellow. The fruits contain seeds if a male tree (pollinator) is present.