Trifoliate Orange
Poncirus trifoliata
Summary 7
Trifoliate Orange, Poncirus trifoliata (syn. Citrus trifoliata), is a member of the family Rutaceae, closely related to Citrus, and sometimes included in that genus, being sufficiently closely related to allow it to be used as a rootstock for Citrus. It differs from Citrus in having deciduous, compound leaves, and pubescent (downy) fruit.
Description 8
Poncirus trifoliata is recognizable by the large 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) thorns on the shoots, and its deciduous leaves with three (or rarely, five) leaflets, typically with the middle leaflet 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) long, and the two side leaflets 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) long. The flowers are white, with pink stamens, 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) in diameter, larger than those of true citrus but otherwise closely resembling them, except that the scent is much less pronounced than with true citrus. As with true citrus, the leaves give off a spicy smell when crushed.
The fruits are green, ripening to yellow, and 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) in diameter, resembling a small orange, but with a finely downy surface.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Leonora Enking, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/33037982@N04/5023312859
- (c) Jeremiah Salinger, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jeremiah Salinger
- (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.biopix.com/photos/jcs-poncirus-trifoliata-56190.jpg
- (c) Chicago Botanic Garden 2010, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://images.dev.morphbank.net/?id=561258&imgType=jpg
- (c) Chicago Botanic Garden 2010, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://images.dev.morphbank.net/?id=568336&imgType=jpg
- (c) Chicago Botanic Garden 2010, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://images.dev.morphbank.net/?id=568338&imgType=jpg
- Adapted by Kate Wagner from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poncirus_trifoliata
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trifoliate_orange
