Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:29:12 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From: Allison Weakley
Subject: trifoliate orange
I concur with Al and Sam that trifoliate orange is an invasive plant in Chatham County. This species (Poncirus trifoliata, aka Citrus trifoliata) has invaded floodplains along Robeson Creek in Pittsboro (where it forms dense thickets), and I’ve seen it also in floodplains along Harlands Creek. Because the fruits are “heavy” (and have lots of seeds), they usually drop to the ground below the parent plant where they produce many seedlings. But when water is available to carry the fruits (as in a floodplain), they are capable of spreading downstream and invading new ground.
~Allison Weakley