The HOV Lane Blog

Great Monkey Balls

Posted by Josh Lane
December 8, 2006

Doe Run, Kentucky. What a pleasant surprise? It is a seemingly random orchard of Osage Orange Trees. The Osage Orange Tree (Maclura Pomifera) is known by many names. According to www.osagehedgeballs.com, it is know by the names of: hedgeballs, hedgeapples, monkey balls, osage orange, mock oranges, horse apples and green brain. These things are beyond strange. Contrary to what most believe, the osage orange is not poisonous. However, Hedge Apple.com claims it is not uncommon for cattle to die from eating osage oranges. The fruit gets stuck in their troats, causing them to suffocate. Suppose you could call it a “green brainiac attack!”

This crop of osage oranges are a little beyond ripe. They have started to brown and are not as fluorescent green as they are when in their prime.

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Information: December 8th, 2006; 6 Responses

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Categories: Photography

Other Posts: Parking Lot Diving; Barnyard Fun - 2

Reader Comments

Comment Number:: 1
Written by:: Sandi @ the WhistleStop Cafe
Posted on:: December 8, 2006 at 8:11 pm

They look like christmas ornaments!

Love your barns~

Comment Number:: 2
Written by:: The TriniGourmet
Posted on:: December 8, 2006 at 9:42 pm

How bizarre! I have never seen these before.

Comment Number:: 3
Written by:: Joshua P.G. Lane
Posted on:: December 10, 2006 at 12:49 pm

Sandi, thank you so much. Wow, they do look like ornaments! Thanks for sharing your observation. Happy Holidays!!

Comment Number:: 4
Written by:: Joshua P.G. Lane
Posted on:: December 10, 2006 at 12:52 pm

TriniGourmet, they may be pretty rare. I have been told there are only 6 osage orange trees in the state of Georgia. While not poisonous, don’t know of any culinary use for them. Doubt they’d help add to any of your delicious dishes of Trinidad.

Comment Number:: 5
Written by:: malinda
Posted on:: December 10, 2006 at 5:27 pm

Looks alot like an old tennis ball the dog has been playing catch with.

Love your pictures.

Comment Number:: 6
Written by:: Joshua P.G. Lane
Posted on:: December 11, 2006 at 10:55 am

Malinda. Yeah, it does. As the hedgeball matures (rots), it too becomes stinky and covered in slime over time. Thanks, Malinda!

Great Monkey Balls

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