What kind of tree am I describing?

Well, I guess there isn't any plant that isn't good for something!!!! I've nearly been dragged off my horse by these things. And trying to get through them in the woods is worse than getting in a fight with a bobcat. But on the bright side, they are supposed to cure syphilis. (If this is the same plant)
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/s/sarjam17.html

Great thread!! Lots of great info, I learned something new today and that makes my day. My philosophy: If you don't learn something then the day is wasted. I LOVE THIS SITE!

I don't have a scanner or I would scan the picture of it that I have. It sounds like the same thing OD and Whiterock. A couple of years ago my dad (73 then) went off on his old mare looking for some cattle. It got dark and mom and I got worried. In comes the old mare all scratched up. We get in the truck and go looking for dad. We find him scratched like you can't imagine. Going after a cow in the late evening is not a good idea. He and the old mare got caught by these briars and the briars won.

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"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord,which made heaven and earth.."Psalm 121:1-3

I really enjoyed this thread.
We have a tree here in the Midwest that's called ' Yellowwood ' but it doesn't have any thorns. Probably same family though. I probably got it from an Ohio mail order nursery called 'Mellingers' as I used to order lots of things from them. They always had some unusual but hardy plants that others didn't have. I like to order from companies that are in my general zone as the plants are more likely to be hardy.

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Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Speaking of Black Locust.........I can get 500 seedlings from th VA DOF for $50, postpaid. Reason for considering is it's one of the best woods I've ever burned and is resistant to rot when used for fenceposts, etc. Any opinions?

I got lots of those kind of trees along my fence line too. I know it as a Bob-wyre tree. (In Texas, that fence wire with all the little points on it is called bob-wyre, not barbed wire as others call it.) I spent some time carefully cutting it back this past week (with gloves on) so I could mow closer to the fence.

Those trees were developed in Texas by a man by the name of Joe Kerr. It seems that he had lots of problems with cattle tearing down the fence and having to spend so much time repairing fence lines. He also noticed that Hackberry trees seemed to grow like weeds along the fence line. After several years, he was able to finally cross a Hackberry tree with bob wyre, creating the Bob Wyre Tree! It's a tree that grows its own bob wyre. Now, instead of digging deep post holes and stringing wire to build a fence, you simply plant a small cutting every 4 to 6 feet. In 2 to 3 years, you have a live bob wyre fence that nothing wants to cross. Since it grows much higher than typical fence height, it is even good as deer fencing. Some people tie the young branches together or even weave them for a more dense fence that keeps out all them there varments.

So, you don't think this story is true??? Repeat the developer's name (Joe Kerr) over and over until you can recognize his name. It'll come to you. :haha:

Dale (DH of Mary, TX)

I'm guessing black locust too and yes they are used for fence post. But they are a second choice to cedar.