Thread: What Type Of Tree??

Anyone got any ideas about this tree?
It looks like a "Som Oh" tree, but smells more like a lime or lemon tree.
It hasn't flowered yet.

The weird thing is, I have about 20 lime trees, and none have leaves quite like this, I also have about 20 Som Oh trees, but none that smell like this, or have thorns like this at all, (The thorns are over 3")

Be grateful for any opinions thanks.


The leaves look like a Som Oh, but are larger than the others I have, and smell like a lime!


None of my Som Oh or limes have any thorns like this.

The Kaffir lime was used in a liver tonic prepared by JLP

https://teakdoor.com/the-kitchen/4804...ver-tonic.html (Johnny's Liver Tonic)

Looks quite similar to the pics in there ???

citrus grandis

I have seen those spikes and the larger leaves on a couple of my grafted Kaffir lime trees when they have sent a shoot up from below the graft. I suspect they graft the smaller, more garden friendly variety onto vigorous root stock.

You see a lot of the big Kaffirs in country Thailand and I suspect that is what Missi has.

The fruit of these things are great as a tonic for big drinkers and of course a staple in Thai cuisine.

See this thread. https://teakdoor.com/the-kitchen/4804...ver-tonic.html (Johnny's Liver Tonic)
for a take on the therapeutic benefits.

Originally Posted by Wayne Kerr

Very friggin interesting mate, I've been hunting a Kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix) here in Fiji for Tom Yum soup etc.

Just got a seedling that looks exactly like yours, but the leaves don't look right (too big) for kaffir lime. Would be great to know what it is Missy has as I think it is exactly what I've got here and need to ID.

Here's the sheet I've been using in my hunt for kaffir lime, I guess you could count yours out as that?

Thanks, the leaves are pretty similar, only larger than the Kaffir, definately some kind of citrus though.

The photo of your leaves look very much like mine, these are about 6-8" long for the whole "double" leaf.

Will just duck out and get some pics of my seedlings, JLP hang around mate for hopefully a positive ID of kaffir lime on both our trees

10pm here, and just braved the savages to get this pic. Was just today thinking I should post a pic of the plant and see if anyone could help ID it. Leaves look just like yours, but a bit bigger than the average kaffir lime leave, JLP???

Originally Posted by Missismiggins

It looks like a "Som Oh" tree, but smells more like a lime or lemon tree.

Plus I'm quite sure "Som O" trees have single leaves, not the double shaped ones like you have. Was reading Kaffir limes can cross with other limes quite easily, so it could be a hybrid?

They could be anything, but the Kaffir generally has doubles for every leaf. Some of the the grapefruit varieties like Missi is talking about, the Som oh in particular, will throw groups of the double leaf in big growth spurt times. The proof will be in the smell. You know what they should smell like and so should Mrs Kerr. If it doesn't smell right then it probably ain't.

Originally Posted by good2bhappy

citrus grandis

Man missed that and I think g2bh has picked Miggins' tree

A Citrus grandis, pomelo, Som O leaf ... learn something every day

Anyway get those buggers into that rich volcanic ground.

I just went to my neighbours' garden, she has an very old Kaffir Lime tree (Citrus hystrix), makrud or som makrud (มะกรูด) in Thai... The same heavy spines, although not as long as yours and only showing on older side-stems. Leaves vary in size, as do the fruits and it is flowering right now. (Yours as well?)



This plant is not getting enough sunlight anymore (hidden between bamboos) so the size of the leaves might differ from yours. It's also possible you have a very local and different variety.



Flower is 15 to 17 mm. across and smells very sweet.

Wikipedia: Kaffir lime - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by Johnny Longprong

I have seen those spikes and the larger leaves on a couple of my grafted Kaffir lime trees when they have sent a shoot up from below the graft. I suspect they graft the smaller, more garden friendly variety onto vigorous root stock.

You see a lot of the big Kaffirs in country Thailand and I suspect that is what Missi has.

The fruit of these things are great as a tonic for big drinkers and of course a staple in Thai cuisine.

See this thread. https://teakdoor.com/the-kitchen/4804...ver-tonic.html (Johnny's Liver Tonic)
for a take on the therapeutic benefits.

It isn't a graft, I don't even know where it came from, other than it is possibly something we ate!

I used to chuck all of the seeds from anything eaten into plant pots lying around the place, this grew from one of these. (It grew in a plant pot until it exploded the pot as it grew... Thais are not sure, some say Lime, som say Som Oh...hopefully it will eventually flower and then get a better idea.

The leaves certainly resemble the kaffir, but I cannot ever remember eating one, we only use the rind and the leaves.

Could it be some sort of grapefruit?

I might be wrong, but I don't think it is Kaffir, it smells more like a lime or an orange tree than either Kaffir or Som Oh, the spikes are thweird thing, they are deadly and bloody HUGE!

Originally Posted by good2bhappy

citrus grandis

Can that have thorns like this? (3" and more???) As I said earlier, I have a load of Som Oh, and not one has a spike/thorn.

^ mate I passed this by one of the green thumb forums, seems we're both looking at grapefruit, Som Oh, pomelo ... there are many varieties I think

ID Citrus in Fiji - UBC Botanical Garden Forums

Originally Posted by Wayne Kerr

^ mate I passed this by one of the green thumb forums, seems we're both looking at grapefruit, Som Oh, pomelo ... there are many varieties I think

ID Citrus in Fiji - UBC Botanical Garden Forums

It is strange, but I recently transplanted an orange tree that grew from some seeds I chucked down after eating, and it too has for some reason developed these same strange long thorns...so maybe you are correct.

Originally Posted by Norton

Torn Ma Kruet according to the missus. Leaves used in Tom Yam and other soup dishes. Fruit not used for food. Cut fruit in half and squeeze juice on hair to stop itching and dandruff. Also, is a good toilet deodorant. Can be used to get rid of fishy smell on fish as well.

No, it definately isnt a Kaffir, anyway, if I keep watering it, maybe I will get some fruit...I'll post you one if you are in Thailand.

Originally Posted by Missismiggins

I'll post you one if you are in Thailand.

Fair nuff. Just up the road in Roiet. Whatever it is, when it fruits, eat a few. If you survive send some my way. Never know it may be delicious.

Anyone ever wonder how in hell someone got the idea an artichoke could be eaten?

Originally Posted by Norton

Anyone ever wonder how in hell someone got the idea an artichoke could be eaten?

History and Legends of Artichokes



According to an Aegean legend and praised in song by the poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus, the first artichoke was a lovely young girl who lived on the island of Zinari. The god, Zeus was visiting his brother Poseidon one day when, as he emerged from the sea, he spied a beautiful young mortal woman. She did not seem frightened by the presence of a god, and Zeus seized the opportunity to seduce her. He was so pleased with the girl, who's name was Cynara, that he decided to make her a goddess, so that she could be nearer to his home on Olympia. Cynara agreed to the promotion, and Zeus anticipated the trysts to come, whenever his wife Hera was away. However, Cynara soon missed her mother and grew homesick. She snuck back to the world of mortals for a brief visit.
After she returned, Zeus discovered this un-goddess-like behavior. Enraged, he hurled her back to earth and transformed her into the plant we know as the artichoke.

A lovely young girl.... nothing wrong with 'trying to eat' that, is it?

Artichokes are the perfect dish for the poor : it's the only food where you have more in your plate after you're done eating.



just delicious btw...