[osagebowman]

Evening, it's also called Hedge and Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera). It's quite remarkable wood. Very dense, extremely resistent to bugs and disease. Fence posts can last 100 years and still be good when dug up. Apparently the original range was Oklahoma and parts of Texas. Transplanted and grown by the Osage Indians near their villages. Highly prized for bows, examples have been found in the Dakotas. My best shooting bows are made of osage.

[Sam Cree]

Humorous exchange on an archery forum located here:

http://forums.eders.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=008000

Start with the 4th poster down, Silverado.

Wasn't sure it would be a good idea to copy the thing directly to our thread.

[Alkhin]

Oh that's good to know...cause despite the thorns and the horseapples, I was rather fond of that tree for its historical roots (pun intended!). I had been a bit worried because aside from that tree and a few others in the neighborhood, I have not found it anywhere else here in the county...presumably because they have all been cut down. Indeed, the people who bought the house after my parents promptly chopped that 30' thing down....and then proceeded to complain to my parents that they 'lied' about the A/C bills..."well, that's because you got rid of your shade!!"

Gotta go now..