Unkown plant

Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:54 pm

This is growing near the state line between Tenn. and Va, I was just wondering if anyone knew what it is? The tree or shrub is about 10ft tall with these yellow balls all over it. The plant in the picture is from under the tree "seedling"

http://perfekt.freewebspace.com/images/plant.JPG

Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:01 am

Looks like a small grapefruit :?:

Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:54 pm

Hi Perfekt,

Your picture doesn't show for me as it says the site doesn't support remote links. Sounds like you are describing Osage orange. Is this it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osage-orange
http://www.greendealer-exotic-seeds.com ... range.html

Newt

Mon Oct 09, 2006 3:30 am

No not an osage orange.

The picture will show if you copy and paste the link in the broswer.

I should add that the tree is very thorny, small thorns on the limbs and something like 6in thorns on the tree.

Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:48 am

Perfekt, I couldn't get the picture because the site didn't support my browser - Netscape. I had to use another browser. Now that you mention the thorns, I was thinking some type of hawthorn - Crataegus. There are hundreds of different ones!! I have been looking at pictures for over an hour and I can't find it. My eyes are going ga-ga!! :shock:

I suggest you contact the University of Tennessee Herbarium and see if they can id it for you.
http://tenn.bio.utk.edu/index.html

I'd love to know what it is if you find out.
Newt

Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:19 pm

Here's an email i recieved from
B. Eugene Wofford, Director of the Herbarium

your shrub is trifoliate orange (poncirus trifoliata); it is an introduced
species and has been used as a security fence with its sharp persistent
thorns; the fruit is very tart and inedible, at least to me. you can view
other images on the website below.

Hepaticaciously,
B. Eugene Wofford, Director of the Herbarium
Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
442 Hesler Biology Building
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville,TN 37996
bewofford@utk.edu; 865-974-6212
Herbarium website: http://tenn.bio.utk.edu/vascular/

Thanks for helping ... Perfekt

Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:41 pm

Wow, an answer that fast!! I thought of a citrus at the very first once I saw the pics because of the shiney leaves, the thorns and the look, but never thought that one could grow outdoors in that hardiness zone, so I searched elsewhere. I keep learning every day!

Thanks for sharing that with me. I'm glad you found out what it is.
Newt