Strange fruit repels crickets

Oh, the Strange Little Hedgeapple!

Can you eat it? Does it smell? Is it poisonous? What is the darn thing?

The fruit itself comes from the Osage tree and when fully ripe is a pale green color, round in shape and slightly larger than a softball. Some say it looks like brain matter.

At times, I would gladly substitute what lies between my ears with the seed pod called by many names: the Osage or mock orange, hedgeapple, green brains or horse apple; but in reality it has no mental powers.

Both the tree and the fruit have a variety of uses, some seemingly magical quality.

Native to southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, the tree named for the Osage Indians was highly prized for use in making bows.

Despite its native origin, the tree can now be found abundantly in other states including Virginia, home to the largest known example of the species.

At Patrick Henry’s Red Hill in Brookneal stands the oldest and largest Osage orange tree in America. The magnificent tree, recorded by the American Forestry Hall of Fame to be an estimated 400 years old boasts a height of 54 feet and a span of 90 inches.

Aficionados of the species claim it is superior to other woods in rot resistance without chemical additives, is second only to coal in BTUs when properly cured and provides a “spectacular light show” when burned green.

But the real story lies with the strange looking fruit. Though it has no known history of being toxic, it is not considered edible by man or beast. There is no particular odor associated with the green ball, at least not one that can be detected by the human snout, but maybe other critters have a keener sense of smell.

One of the most popular uses of the sphere is to eradicate the presence of crickets and spiders in one’s home.

A-ha! You laugh at what sounds like hooey, but I am here to testify to its truth!

Six years ago, I was a nonbeliever but thought, “What the heck; I was really tired of the cricket serenade 24/7. I had nothing to lose. I placed one in each room along the baseboard.

They will seep a dark fluid as they wither, so it is important to put something protective underneath them. I use a dessert size paper plate. Within three or four days, the insects were non-existent — not dead, just not in my house. It truly seems miraculous! At the very least it is effective, safe and cost free.

In their simplest form they can be added to most any holiday greenery for a unique arrangement, smaller ones can be used in a holiday wreath (they will last longer than the standard fruit) or one can follow the Martha Stewart tradition and gild them with gold paint and use as a table decoration.

You can order them online for a small fee or find a tree and ask the owner.

Until next week, be well.