Names and distribution: The name Osage Orange comes from the Osage Indians, who settled in the natural distribution area of the species. Osage orange, also known as Osage thorn because of its hard thorns, is found in the south-east of the USA and was mainly planted there as live fence posts, i.e. as a hedge to delimit grazing areas. The species, botanically Maclura pomifera, is related to the Mediterranean mulberry tree and the yellowwood of Central and South America(Maclura tinctoria), all of which belong to the Moraceae family.
Wood appearance: The sapwood is narrow and white, clearly separated from the heartwood. Heartwood quince and lemon colored, darkening to orange under the influence of light (name!). Reminiscent of robinia at first. Vessels in early wood arranged in rings to half rings, growth zones clearly visible, late wood dense and fine-pored. Wood rays invisible to the naked eye. The texture is plain, striped in a radial cut, sometimes needle-cracked, with a matt sheen. Shaft forms sometimes curved, knotty and characterized by twisted growth (spiral growth). Then only limited use.
Properties: Like hickory, osage orange is a particularly hard and tough wood. There are no reliable data on the physical properties of wood. At 12% moisture content, the wood has a bulk density of 940 kg/m3, and still 860 kg/m3 when absolutely dry. The shrinkage is not specified, but is above average. From fresh to atro, the wood supposedly shrinks by 9.2% by volume. The hardness is high, the modulus of elasticity parallel to the fiber is given as only 11,600 MPa or N/mm2, but could also be higher. The Osa mandrel can only be worked with increased force. The wood can be used permanently outdoors.
Use: Special wood for fence posts and tool handles. Straight shafts especially suitable for longbows / sport bows.
| Sources: |
div. US sources, including the Federal Research Institute, Madison, Wis. |
