Image of Bois d'Arc

Description:

Slo.: navadna maklura, divja pomarana, osaki pomaranevec - syn.: Maclura aurantiaca Nutt., Ioxylon pomiferum Raf. - Habitat: poorly maintained garden in outskirts of a small town; almost flat terrain, sandy ground; full sun; dry place; elevation 34 m (110 feet); average precipitations ~ 1.000 mm/year, average temperature 12-14 deg C, (Sub)Mediterranean phytogeographical region. Substratum: garden soil. Comment: Maclura pomifera is a tree native to relatively small area of south-central North America (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas) (Ref.4). Today it is introduced to several European countries (in 1818) including Slovenia and Croatia and elsewhere. It is mostly planted in gardens and parks. As a plant, which is resistant to cold winters it is not bound to Mediterranean only where it was photographed. The plant resembles to some extent orange tree (apart of the fruit color, of cause), however, botanically it is not related to them and belongs to mulberry family (Moraceae). Maclura pomifera tree has several uses. In USA it was most frequently used as a 'barbed wire' hedgerow shrub. Namely, the plant is full of very sharp, long and strong spines particularly nasty on new shoots. Dense thickets of young plants are almost impenetrable. Thousands of miles of hedgerows and about 200 millions trees (Ref.:4) were planted in USA, also as a protection of soil against winds in thirties of the last century. However, with the advent of barbed wire all this is gone. Also medical uses are known and its wood is of high quality. It was traditionally used for tools, bows, etc. as well as excellent, high energy firewood. Ref.: (1) Personal communication with Dr. Robert Brus, University of Ljubljana Department of Forestry, Slovenia (2) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 544. (3) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 230. (4) R. Brus, Drevesne vrste na slovenskem (Tree species of Slovenia) (in Slovenian), samozaloba (2012).