In The Garden: Plant Identification

This plant has dark green leaves with redddish leaves near the tip of the branch. There are long, thin thorns sticking out of the branch. From Summer, this plant/tree develops fruit. They start of green and turn yellow. The inside of the fruit contains seeds similar to those of a watermelon and empty spaces similar to a lemon (without the flesh).

 

This looks very much like a Chaenomeles / Ornamental Quince - I couldn't tell you what cultivar/species though

 

I do not think it is the Chaenomeles because there are sharp thorns, shiny dark green leaves with some red leave on the tip of the branch. Also, it does not have red flowers.
Thanks for your help anyway.
Any other suggestions?

 

I agree with robyn.
Some Chaenomeles sp.do infact have thorns.

eg. Chaenomeles cathayensis.
Others have been bred to reduce the thorns.
Flowers can be red, pink or white depending on which one it is.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=C...2%2F28%2Fchaenomeles-les-fruits.html;1024;682

 

Thanks very much.
Would you say then that this fruit is edible?

 

Edible, but not palatable. You can use it when it is ripe (yellow) for making jam / jelly, but not for eating fresh.

 

Chaenomeles are pretty much invariably armed.