Maclura pomifera

This tree contains sticky latex, and has an irregularly spherical crown. It does not generally grow more than 15 m tall. It has orange brown bark that cracks longitudinally with age and sheds in long thin strips. When scratched these smell bad, as do the branches. The twigs are generally armed with thorns up to 6 cm long, arranged in pairs. The leaves measure up to 12 cm in length and are deciduous, simple, and alternate. They have an entire margin and are hairless except for a few hairs that can be found on the veins on the underside. They are ovate-lanceolate or oblong in shape and have a pointed apex. This is a dioecious species, i.e., the trees are either male or female. The yellowish-green male flowers are inconspicuous, and grouped in globose clusters up to 3 cm long. The female blooms have almost no stalks and come together to form globose flower heads. In the summer or autumn fruit develop which are also globose and large in size (up to 15 cm diameter). These are fleshy, and have juicy pulp but are inedible and contain numerous elongated seeds. The fruit are characterised by their wrinkled yellowish-green surface that is vaguely reminiscent of an orange or a small brain. When split open they exude a milky sap.