![]() The manchineel’s small apple-like fruit definitely won’t keep the doctor away - it packs such a poisonous punch that the Spanish conquistadors called it the ‘la manzanilla de la muerte’ or ‘little apple of death. Fact: The story that the fruit of the Osage orange tree (also called hedge apple, monkey ball, or spider ball) can repel or ward off spiders turns out to be extremely widespread in Midwestern states, where the trees are common. Myth: “Hedge apples” (Osage orange fruit) or horse chestnuts can be used to repel spiders. Leave the apples for one to three weeks while they dry.Hang the apples from a shelf or other ledge.Tie a piece of twine or string to the stem of each hedge apple.Pick the hedge apples with the stem intact just before the peak of their ripeness.Horses generally bypass the fruit when browsing because of its extremely hard texture and unpalatability, especially when there is other forage to satiate hunger. Studies have shown that hedge apples are innocuous to horses when ingested. You must add apples to a pig’s diet slowly and feed with moderation. Apples are one of the most nutritious foods for pigs, and luckily, they also love them! Like humans, pigs can be fussy about certain foods, but most enjoy apples. Claims abound that hedge apples around the foundation or inside the basement will repel boxelder bugs, crickets, spiders and other pests. The use of the hedge apples for insect control is one of the most enduring pest management home remedies. How to Use Hedge Apples to Control Spiders The oils in hedge apples are well known for repelling pests such as spiders and mice. The repellent properties came from compounds inside the fruit, however, and were ineffective when the fruit remained whole. Given that spiders willingly weave their webs on Osage orange trees and on hedge apples themselves, it seems unlikely that the fruit repels spiders. What humans have discovered is that lots of insects really don’t like the glossy leaves, the branches, or the bark of this tree. Squirrels and chipmunks love hedge apples humans do not, but they’re not poisonous. Beyond the flesh, the seeds are edible and can be toasted. ![]() How do you eat Osage?ĭespite many misinterpretations of the fruit being inedible, the fruit is edible but is not commonly consumed due to its unpalatable features such as the bitter flavor and unpleasant latex-like liquid that can irritate the skin. Those that come from the Dalgo and Centennial trees are considered the most edible. In fact, crab apples are usually simply not eaten because they can be extremely sour or spongy in texture. This is because crab apples are not always palatable. However, animals like squirrels and chipmunks can eat these fruits. Unfortunately, no you cannot eat hedge apples due to its sticky latex secretions and woody pulp, it is not suitable for consumption by humans. Hedge apple wood is useful for the production of items including tree nails, tool handles, electrical insulators and fence posts. Hedge apples have historically been used as a way to fence in and control livestock (hence the name “hedge apple”). You may not have eaten a “poisonous” fruit, but from the severe pain that may ensue, you may feel like you have. However, on its own, it can also be a stomach irritant. Hedge apples also contain isoflavones, which have phenolic, which is itself like white willow.
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