Maclura
Maclura is a genus of flowering plants in the mulberry family, Moraceae. It includes the inedible Osage orange, which is used as mosquito repellent and grown throughout the United States as a hedging plant. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants.
Maclura is closely related to the genus Cudrania, and hybrids between the two genera have been produced. Some botanists recognize a more broadly defined Maclura that includes species previously included in Cudrania and other genera of Moraceae. The genus likely originated in South America during the Paleogene.
Species
13 species are accepted.Maclura africana – eastern Africa and MadagascarMaclura andamanica – Vietnam, Laos to Andaman IslandsMaclura brasiliensis – Brazil, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, and VenezuelaMaclura cochinchinensis – China, Vietnam, Malesia, and northern AustraliaMaclura fruticosa – China and VietnamMaclura mollis – Mexico Maclura montana – China Maclura orientalis – China Maclura pomifera C.K.Schneid. - Osage-orange; United StatesMaclura pubescens – ChinaMaclura spinosa – India to Sri LankaMaclura tinctoria D.Don ex Steud. – Mexico to northern ArgentinaMaclura tricuspidata – China, Vietnam, and Korea
Formerly placed here
Milicia excelsa Milicia regia
Etymology
The genus is named in honor of William Maclure, a Scottish-born American geologist and educational reformer. President of the American Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia for 22 years. Maclure made major contributions to his field, including the first true geological map of any part of North America, and was a strong advocate of universal education, especially for women.
Fossils similar to Maclura have been reported from the Middle Eocene of England.