Tag Archives: Osage Orange

Natural History

Autumnal Marvels at Kew

One of the delights of walking in nature, or indeed in a botanic garden, is that you never know what surprises you may meet.

Osage Orange, Maclura pomifera fruit cluster, with sticky white latex when cut. The Osage were the tallest tribe in North America; they used the wood to make bows (for shooting). Maclure was a Scottish-American geologist. Pomifera (apple-bearing) means the ‘fruit’ looks vaguely like an apple. Actually it’s more reminiscent of a luridly fluorescent green tennis ball, and about the same size too.
Wild Honey Bees guarding nest in Deodar cedar. David, one of the volunteer helpers, led us to it.
New Blue Dragon on Kew Pagoda