Maclura pomifera, known as Osage Orange or Horse Apple.  Not to be mistaken for Road Apples, the kind the Mounted Police’s mounts leave.  It is a small deciduous tree, typically growing to 25 to 50 feet tall.  The fruit, is roughly spherical, but bumpy, and 3 to 6 inches in diameter.  In fall, its color turns a bright yellow-green and it has a faint odor similar to that of oranges.  It is also very difficult to walk underneath an Osage Orange three that has dropped its fruit.  This picture was taken Sunday, in the Park. 

I have never gotten back to you all about Slumdog Millionaire.  I really liked the movie.  It was shown as part of the Saint Louis International Film Festival.  We saw it at the Tivoli.  The Post Dispatch had it summarized under its Oscar Handicapper’s section about the festival.  I think they were right and I would not be surprised if it is nominated and I don’t mean as Best Foreign Film.  It should be in general release by December 12th.  The following promotional video clips are available on YouTube, Are You Nervous?, The Boys On A Train, Latika At The Train Station, I Will Never Forgive You, and My Name Is Latika. 

As Dana Stevens of Slate.com aptly put it, It’s just boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-performs-miracle-on-live-television-in-order-to-get-girl.  In these troubled economic times it is even more interesting to see a rupee-less boy succeed.  Go see it!