''Triphasia brassii'' is a rare species of '' Triphasia'' in the family Rutaceae, native to

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...

. All known specimens are from one general area. Triphasias are very close relatives of citrus.

Description

It is a very spiny evergreen shrub (rarely a small tree) growing to 2 m (6.5 ft) tall. The leaves are glossy dark green, each leaflet 2–4 cm (3/4 to 1 1/2 in) long and 1.5–2 cm (3/4 to 1 in) wide. The

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism ...

s are white and strongly scented. The kumquat-sized

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in partic ...

is a red, edible hesperidium resembling a small ''

Citrus ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus ''Citrus'' is nati ...

'' fruit. The fruit is larger than the somewhat better known limeberry. The fruit flesh is pulpy, with a flavor reminiscent of a slightly sweet lime.Huxley, A, ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening'' 3: 697. Macmillan .Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk
''Triphasia trifolia''
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''Triphasia trifolia''
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Cultivation and uses

Like its close relative the ''limeberry'', ''T. brassii'' may have some unexplored potential as a fruit crop. Thus far, however, this potential has been limited due to the absence of domesticated variants, the lack of close scientific study, and the extreme rarity of the plant.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q16993232 Berries Aurantioideae Tropical fruit id:Kingkit