The prickly kind may also be edible (4)
I believe the answer is:
pear
This might be a double definition.
'the prickly kind may' is the first definition.
The answer and definition can be both plants as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'be edible' is the second definition.
The answer and definition can be both things that one consumes for nourishment as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'also' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pear that I've seen before include "Shapely fruit?" , "Cider-making fruit" , "A fruit; sounds like couple" , "Fruit tree" , "Source of cider" .)