Explanation: This clue refers to the Osage orange tree, a species known for its incredibly strong, flexible wood. Native peoples, including the Osage and Chickasaw, used it for tools and weapons that required durability and resilience. Later, settlers planted it in hedgerows and along fence lines because of its thorns and natural resistance to decay.
The tree grows widely throughout the region, so any Osage orange tree would have been accepted for this challenge.
We included a reference to the trail to a bluff because there is a clearly marked Osage orange tree and educational sign at the head of the Lake Trail at Plymouth Bluff. For those familiar with the area, it served as a subtle, optional hint — but it was not required to solve the clue.
