Zombie Brain Fruit!

  Sometimes, my knowledge is sorely lacking.  Other times, I am spot on with my answers!  Too bad the lacking part shows itself far more often than the other.  But!  Occasionally, I even surprise myself.  For instance, Mark was driving home from work when he reached a highway in Kentucky.  It was there that he hit something in the road and decided to stop to investigate.  He found "these large fruits that look like brains!" (His words.)  Well, that was rather appropriate since it was Halloween Day and a few zombies may have dropped some brains along the highway.  He took a photograph and picked up a few of the "brains" then started back on his journey.  As soon as I received the photograph (technology is an amazing thing!), I knew right off what these brain fruits were.  When he called back, I told him "Osage Oranges".  How did I know that?  I have no clue but that is exactly what they were.  I have never seen one as they do not grow down here, as far as I know.  Still, I knew what the things were...Zombie Brain Fruit aka Osage Oranges.

  Osage Oranges, Hedge Apples, Horse Apples...all are names for this weird looking fruit.  The fruit is inedible, ugly, and exudes a nasty, sticky sap that can cause an irritating rash on some folks.  Although, it is often called by the names of orange and apple, it is not kin to either. In fact it is closer kin to mulberries than either of the other.  It is a pretty useless thing if you are looking for something as a food source but, back in the day, the Osage Orange tree was very useful.  The trees were planted as hedgerows to keep livestock from free roaming and the wood was often used in creating bows and the wood rims and hubs of wagon wheels.  The wood of the Osage Orange tree is a tough wood that resists rot but is easily bent when green.

  My bit of useless knowledge about the identity of the unusual fruit turned into a research project.  I had no idea how the tree was used nor that the fruit was not used.  However, when I saw the photograph, I did have a gut feeling that I did not want to take a bite of the fruit!  Something told me that I may regret that action.  For now, the fruit sits on my kitchen table.  We are trying to make a decision about planting the seeds.  While it may be nice to have some hardwood for crafts but do I really want those two pound fruits littering the yard?  Nothing eats them!  What would I do with them?  And what if I got pounded in the head with one while out on a hike?  So...Zombie Brain Fruit may just remain away from the Bayou!