The Osage orange trees on this site are remnants of tree rows once typical along the edges of farm fields in Dublin. The Osage orange, or Maclura pomifera, is a member of the mulberry family native to midwestern North America. Its common name refers to the Osage Indians of Arkansas and Missouri, who used the dense orange wood to make bows and tomahawks. Early farmers often planted Osage orange as fencing along fields and property lines because its irregular, thorny branches quickly grew into a secure boundary. These hedge rows also provided refuge for birds and small animals. The fruit of the Osage orange is the size of a softball and chartreuse green with a bumpy surface texture like brains, and it is widely known as a natural repellant for roaches, spiders, and other insects.
