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..
The osage trees were planted as hedgerows throughout the midwest before barbed wire became so popular. Hence the Hedge reference. Still the hedge rows linger on until bigger fields or shopping centers and subdivisions call for their removal.
If you feel like growing your own, the Missouri Department of Conservation nursery in Licking MO sells small osage trees.
G'nite All