Bois de Arc or commonally calle bodark. The tree is native to the north east Texas counties along the Red River.
It is a tough dense wood that contains a oil in it's fiber that makes it most undesirabel to insects and rotting. It is very strond and almost impossible to break by bending. Hence the us for bows and fence posts. Trying to drive a staple into bodark is a feat. There are male and female trees. The female produces the fruit commonlly called a "Horse Apple". A softball or larger size round green ball with a raised dimpled surface is quite hard at first and then ages to a soft mush around the core seed. There is a white milk contained in the apple that is the most insedious glue for those unaware. Once the fruit is cut this milk oozes out and formes a protective barrier. You don't want this stuff on you or your clothes. It is very difficult to remove and it is very sticky.
It might run bugs and spiders off but it will smell to high heaven when the outer body rots to feed the seed score. It's really a mess to clean up. Be aware.
Grew up playing with these things. Make knife and pistol grips out of the bodark wood. It has an amazing yellow color when first cut. It eventually ages to a dark gray/black if unprotected. Knarly and prone to split in large pieces.
Jerry Warthan