Author Topic: Very Unusual Looking seedlings from Australian Round Lime fruit  (Read 564 times)

BenjaminJohnson

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 139
    • USA,WA,Bellevue,8B
    • View Profile
    • https://eastsidegardening.etsy.com
I planted some seeds from my Australian Round Lime tree's fruit a couple of years ago.  The seedlings look very unusual, the leaves don't look like the parent and they resemble conifer needles.  Wondering if it's a hybrid with one of my 25-30 other citrus trees. Anyone seen anything like these before? 










Perplexed

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 209
    • 7b/8a GA
    • View Profile
Re: Very Unusual Looking seedlings from Australian Round Lime fruit
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2023, 04:17:56 AM »
Probably not a hybrid. Citrus australis has a juvenile leaf stage and a mature leaf stage. Over time the leaves will go from conifer shaped to diamond shaped leaves.
« Last Edit: June 02, 2023, 05:02:44 AM by Perplexed »

Seanny

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1119
    • Garden Grove, Orange County, California, 10B
    • View Profile
Re: Very Unusual Looking seedlings from Australian Round Lime fruit
« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2023, 10:29:20 AM »
Looks like a thorny rosemary.

pagnr

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 941
    • View Profile
Re: Very Unusual Looking seedlings from Australian Round Lime fruit
« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2023, 11:46:22 AM »
They do look a little unusual. Are they under strong grow lights that could compact growth/ short nodes ?
Each individual leaf looks a little different to the australis seedlings I have grown before.
I will double check some of my seedlings for leaf shape.
You could try tasting a leaf from the seedling and the seed tree to see if there is any strong difference indicating a hybrid.

hardyvermont

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 177
    • Anderson SC z 8a
    • View Profile
Re: Very Unusual Looking seedlings from Australian Round Lime fruit
« Reply #4 on: June 02, 2023, 03:29:23 PM »
I think those are juvenile leaves.

pagnr

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 941
    • View Profile
Re: Very Unusual Looking seedlings from Australian Round Lime fruit
« Reply #5 on: June 02, 2023, 04:38:48 PM »
Yes definitely Juvenile leaves, and long and strap like, as usual for C. australis.
Being in Australia, I have collected and grown some seed from the wild around Brisbane.
Can't say I have had seedlings that look exactly like those in the pics.
Also have a feeling that the leaves should be slightly more pointed than round ended.

citrange

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 146
    • UK - 15 miles west of London
    • View Profile
    • Home Citrus growers
Re: Very Unusual Looking seedlings from Australian Round Lime fruit
« Reply #6 on: June 02, 2023, 04:45:58 PM »
Take a look at my website page with photos of wild Citrus australis plants growing in D'Aguilar National Park, about 50miles from Brisbane.
http://www.homecitrusgrowers.co.uk/australiannativecitrus/citrusaustralis2.html
You will see the various different leaf forms as the plant matures. The juvenile leaves are just like yours.