Post by: Uncle Russ on January 03, 2013, 10:49:05 PM
I came across this bit of trivia in my reading.......
"Maclura pomifera, commonly called Osage-orange, hedge-apple,[1] Horse-apple, Bois d'arc, Bodark, or Bodock[2] is a small deciduous tree or large shrub, typically growing to 8–15 metres (26–49 ft) tall. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on different plants. The fruit, a multiple fruit, is roughly spherical, but bumpy, and 7–15 cm in diameter. It is filled with a sticky white latex. In fall, its color turns a bright yellow-green. It is not closely related to the orange: Maclura belongs to the mulberry family, Moraceae, while oranges belong to the family Rutaceae.
Maclura is closely related to the genus Cudrania, and hybrids between the two genera have been produced. In fact, some botanists recognize a more broadly defined Maclura that includes species previously included in Cudrania and other genera of Moraceae.
Osajin and Pomiferin are flavonoid pigments present in the wood and fruit, comprising about 10% of the fruit's dry weight. The plant also contains the flavonol morin.
It was once thought that placing an Osage orange under the bed would repel spiders and insects. This practice has declined with the rise of synthetic insecticides. However, scientific studies have found that extracts of Osage orange do repel several insect species, in some studies just as well as the widely-used synthetic insect repellent DEET.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maclura_pomifera (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maclura_pomifera)
That is my own emphasis with the underlined part.....especially the part of comparing Osage Orange to DEET!
My goodness! The things we learn as we go through life..........Uncle Russ...
Post by: Spotted Bull on January 03, 2013, 11:18:47 PM
Be burn it during the spring and summer to keep skeeters away at campouts!
Post by: Fletcher on January 04, 2013, 01:55:52 AM
I have some scraps if you want to try.
Fortunately for me here in NW Montana we don't have nasty pisen bugs so no real need of repellant under my bed.
Just happy with 3 comforters on top. May hit near '0' tonight.
Post by: Uncle Russ on January 04, 2013, 02:16:36 AM
How about Rick Evans, Longhunter, and some of the other Bowyers on this site?
You know, I ain't the youngest old rooster in this pen, and I have been around Bows & Arrers for some time now, and I will guarantee you that I have never heard anything even remotely close to this.
Makes me wonder about the effectiveness of Wikipedia and where they get all their information.
Now I'm just sayin.........
I realize this is more a trivia thing that anything else, and ain't worth a nickle to nobody, and on top of that it may well be true.
But you can betcha I am going to have my ears open when I hear Osage talk in the future.
Uncle Russ...
Post by: rickevans on January 04, 2013, 07:52:38 AM
Uncle russ...how are you doing with the bow?
Post by: Riley/MN on January 04, 2013, 01:40:15 PM
Post by: Fletcher on January 08, 2013, 01:08:57 AM
repel most spiders, termites and centipedes. Cedar or juniper shavings will repel ticks and fleas -
they make great stuffing for pet beds.
I reckon other plants can do the same - but then agin a lot of them make me sneeze so make sure
the cure ain't worse than the problem
Post by: greggholmes on January 08, 2013, 02:15:32 AM
Post by: rickevans on January 08, 2013, 07:25:31 AM