# What is this fruit/seed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2022, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit-seed/972538 "2022-10-01T12:21:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![yearofglad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b782af/32.png) [@yearofglad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yearofglad)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit-seed/972538/21 "2022-10-02T15:49:14Z")
From my original post: > [@yearofglad](#): > > they’re a bit bigger than a tennis ball ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit-seed/972538/22 "2022-10-02T15:52:38Z")
I know, but you also included your shoe, which was my point. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit-seed/972538/23 "2022-10-02T15:56:24Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > When freshly cut it will immediately sink in water it is so heavy. So, not a reliable method for weighing witches? ---
**Author:** ![yearofglad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b782af/32.png) [@yearofglad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yearofglad)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit-seed/972538/24 "2022-10-02T16:17:35Z")
You must be fun at parties. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit-seed/972538/25 "2022-10-02T16:21:19Z")
Gee, you think that’s why I don’t get invited out much? ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit-seed/972538/26 "2022-10-02T16:39:41Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > the fruits contain an insect-repelling sap (they’re not edible). > [@am77494](#): > > They are native to east Texas and make great bows. Interesting, because I’ve heard yew trees were grown for making bows, but are also poisonous. I wonder if that’s just coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit-seed/972538/27 "2022-10-02T16:40:47Z")
Fwiw, my foot must be much smaller than yours, because i looked at the photo, estimated the size, and then did a doubletake when you claimed “larger than a tennis ball”. Because no way, from the photo that’s smaller than a tennis ball. Also, the wood is excellent for many purposes. I have a lot of small wooden mechanical puzzles with pieces made of usage orange. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit-seed/972538/28 "2022-10-02T21:26:28Z")
That is my go to Wood for making primitive bows. I pay about $125 for a 6 ft long piece split from the trunk about 3 in by 3 in. If you can find a straight tree it will be worth several thousand dollars so that’s not to use it for firewood. And you can sell it as fast as you cut it. But you do have to have some knowledge of what a bowmaker is looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit-seed/972538/29 "2022-10-03T08:48:37Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > I have read that the animals that used to eat the fruit went extinct, and that is why the trees were found in a limited range before settlers started planting them far out of their range. I’ve heard that, too, and it’s an interesting theory. Before the European invasion the Natives used the wood for bows and did some planting of their own as well, which probably helped keep the species going. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit-seed/972538.md?page=1)