![]() ![]() However, there are still plenty of orange varieties that have large thorns, and generally those are bitter and less often consumed. Over time, the popularity and cultivation of many oranges has led to thorn-less varieties or those with small, blunt thorns found only at the base of the leaves. Thorn-less cultivars are available, but supposedly lack flavor, are less productive, and are thus less desirable. Most true lemons have sharp thorns lining the twigs, although some hybrids are almost thorn-less, such as “Eureka.” The second most popular citrus fruit, the lime, also has thorns. Of course, this may cause some difficulty for the cultivator since the thorns make it difficult to harvest the fruit. For this reason, while many juvenile citrus have thorns, mature specimens often do not. Vegetation is most delicate when the tree is young. The presence of thorns on citrus trees has evolved for exactly the same reason that animals such as hedgehogs and porcupines sport prickly hides– protection from predators, specifically, hungry animals that want to nibble away at the tender leaves and fruit. If you own a citrus variety and have noticed these spiky protuberances on the branches, your question may be, “Why does my citrus plant have thorns?” Why Does My Citrus Plant Have Thorns? Some citrus trees with thorns outgrow them as the tree matures. ![]() Thorns on citrus trees develop at the nodes, often sprouting on new grafts and fruiting wood. Some of the most common citrus trees that sport thorns are Meyer lemon, most grapefruits, and key limes. Classified as a member of the Citrus genus until 1915, at which time it was reclassified into the Fortunella genus, the sweet and tart kumquat is another citrus tree with thorns. Citrus Tree with ThornsĬitrus fruits fall into several categories such as:Īll are members of the genus Citrus and many of the citrus trees have thorns on them. ![]() Let’s learn more about thorns on a citrus tree. Although not well known, it is a fact that most, but not all citrus fruit trees have thorns. No, it’s not an anomaly there are thorns on citrus trees. ![]()
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