The lemon thorn, in Afrikaans lemoentjiedoring, is a shiny-leaf shrub that scrambles among trees and occurs naturally in many parts of southern Africa. The slender twigs display a zigzag pattern with spines at every turn along the branch.

The family, Icacinaceae, also contains the genus Apodytes that is known in South Africa, but the family is better represented elsewhere in tropical areas.

The fruit is edible, but not really worth eating. Lemon thorn does well in cultivation (www.plantzafrica.com).