OUT!! #9: Of Catalpas and Hedge-Apples

You've seen them at least once this summer or at some point in life. The weird, lumpy fruits that bounce off of your lawn from that tree or bush of spurious origin or the long, bean-like fruits of the one with the heart-shaped leaves. These trees are some of my favorites because of their appearance and how little people seem to know about them or where they came from. I am of course referring to Catalpa (Catalpa spp.) and Osage-Orange (Maclura pomifera) trees. Far from being foreign and unknown, these trees are uniquely American species and while not closely related, are at least well recognized for their unique appearance on the New England landscape.

While originally from Texas, I saw my first Osage-Orange tree while working as a camp counselor at Drumlin Farm Day Camp in the summer of 2011. As I handled one of those lumpy fruits I could recall having read about such trees and their unusual fruits in a Golden Guide to Trees I'd read as a child. The guide states the following:

"Osage-Orange like Catalpa is planted widely outside its original range. It was used as one of the first "living fences" to bound prairie farms. Indians prized the tough wood for bows and war clubs; we use it to a limited extent for posts and ties. Osage-orange is a relative of the Mulberries and the Fig. It is easily identified by its shiny leaves, thorny twigs, bright orange inner bark. The unusual, wrinkled, orange-like fruit, 4 to 5 in. in diameter, has a typical citrus odor, but the inside is dry and pulpy, with a milky juice. It grows from a ball of small green flowers. Height: 15 to 50ft"

Photograph of leaves and fruit courtesy of Wikipedia

I remember that description well and was delighted to find several of the trees at Drumlin. Why they had been planted there is anyone's guess because they seemed to be scattered throughout the property. I have seen only three trees myself and hope that there are others of this one-of-a-kind tree elsewhere. Their scatter shot plantings didn't seem to have a fence post or enclosure in mind so perhaps, they were used for folk remedies when they were planted with the hope that the fruit they produced could be used to ward of various insects and spiders that hid in the home. According to a Wikipedia article on the plant, while it was used as a natural fence, its fruit, often called "hedge-apples", were used as insect repellant. This was possibly due to the citrus smell given off by the fruit and in some instances was strong enough the keep certain insects away permanently.

A Catalpa that resides on the Heard's Conservation Land.

While the Osage is unique in its own right, it is certainly less familiar than the Catalpa. One cannot drive anywhere along a main road in Sudbury or Wayland without seeing one of these distinctive trees. They're are the archetypical shade tree with their broad, green leaves and enormous canopies. I initially was only aware that there were trees by such a name due to a type of fishing bait I'd heard of called catalpa worms. The worms themselves are actually misnomers. They are actually the larvae of the Catalpa Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia catalpae) which feed on the leaves of the plant that they're named for. Originally of the Missouri River Valley, the Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) has been introduced widely as fast-growing tree for timber production by farmers, but also for its aesthetic and shade providing qualities.

The unusual, yet intriguing aspects of these trees make them pop out to those who are paying attention. But to those who puzzle over a lumpy green fruit from that monster tree in the yard or that beautiful shade tree planted 100 years ago, you can be assured that if its either one of these trees, you will be thrilled.