Climbing Orange

asiatica: of Asia

Strong robust liane. The young branches are covered with sharp, hooked thorns. In older branches these form thickened knobs, which still maintain the hooks. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets elliptic to obovate, shiny green, paler below, covered with translucent gland-dots, with a strong citrus smell when crushed. Flowers in axillary and terminal clusters or branched inflorescences, cream to pale greenish-yellow. Fruit small, citrus-like, orange when ripe.

Common in the E Highlands

Papilio dardanus cenea (Mocker swallowtail) Papilio demodocus demodocus (Citrus swallowtail)

Africa from E and C Africa southwards to S Africa, Madagascar, the Mascarene Islands and India