Osage Orange
Maclura pomifera
The Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) is a resilient, thorny tree famous for its heavy rot-resistant …
African Osage Orange (Maclura africana)
Thorny Mulberry
Pumbula
Cardiogyne
Afrikasoetlemoen
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Maclura africana: African Osage Orange and Thorny Mulberry Guide
Inhabiting the riverine fringes and low-altitude woodlands of southeastern Africa, Maclura africana grows as a thorny scrambler or small tree. Its long, arching branches climb over surrounding vegetation to reach sunlight. The species plays a key role in local ecosystems by providing cover and food for fauna.
Local communities occasionally harvest the plant from the wild to extract natural pigments. Its formidable spines also make it suitable as a protective barrier. Despite its ecological value, it remains relatively underutilized in modern landscaping.
Taxonomy
- ∟ царство Plantae
- ∟ division Tracheophytes (Vascular Plants)
- ∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
- ∟ Angiosperms
- ∟ mesangiosperms (Core angiosperms)
- ∟ eudicots
- ∟ Superrosids
- ∟ rosids
- ∟ order Rosales
- ∟ family Moraceae
- ∟ genus Maclura (Osage orange)
- ∟ species Maclura africana (African Osage Orange)
Morphology
The growth habit of this species ranges from a heavily armed, multi-stemmed shrub to a small tree reaching up to 7 meters. Its slender branches are equipped with sharp, solitary spines that assist in climbing. The leaves are simple, alternate, and coriaceous, exhibiting an elliptic or obovate shape.
This dioecious plant produces small, unisexual flowers clustered in dense, globose heads. The female flowers develop into globose, green fruits that mature into yellow-orange syncarps. These aggregate fruits contain small seeds embedded within a fleshy pulp.
Flowering season
October to January
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
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Oct
Name
Dec
Applications
The heartwood and roots of this species yield natural yellow pigments used locally to color fabrics. In some African regions, it is planted along field borders to form impenetrable, protective hedges. The dense wood is also gathered for fuel or carved into small household implements.
Interesting facts
- Support Mechanism: The long, weak branches rely on woody thorns to hook onto neighboring trees for support.
- Nesting Sanctuary: The dense, thorny canopy provides safe nesting sites for small birds, protecting them from predators.
- False Orange: Despite its common name, its fruit is much smaller than that of the North American Osage Orange.
Geography of distribution
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Mozambique
- South Africa
- Zimbabwe
- Malawi
Sources
- Plants of the World Online (POWO)
- World Flora Online (WFO)
- South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
See also
Silkworm thorn
Maclura tricuspidata
A deciduous tree native to East Asia, Maclura tricuspidata is known for its sweet, melon-flavored …
Dyer's mulberry tree
Maclura tinctoria
A medium to large neotropical tree famed for producing fustic, a natural yellow dye historically …
Cockspur Thorn
Maclura cochinchinensis
A thorny scrambling shrub or climber native to East Asia and Australia, known for its …