Micromelum minutum

Micromelum minutum, commonly known as limeberry, dilminyin (east Arnhem Land). kimiar margibur (Murray Island), tulibas tilos (Philippines), sesi (Indonesia) and samui (Thailand), is a species of small tree or shrub in the citrus plant family Rutaceae. It occurs from India and Indochina to Australia. It has pinnate leaves with egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaflets, hairy, pale green or creamish, scented flowers arranged in large groups and yellow to orange or red, oval to spherical berries in dense clusters.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 4-6 m high and spreads 2-4 m wide. The small branches have a dense hairy covering. The leaves are divided into leaflets with a leaflet at the end of the stalk. Leaves are 16-49 cm long. There are 7-15 leaflets. They are oblong and uneven at the base. The edges of the leaves are wavy or with rounded teeth. The leaflets are 2-12 cm long by 1.5-7 cm wide. There are a few hairs on the upper surface and densely hairy along the veins on the underneath surface. The flowers are on the ends of branches. They are 3-5 cm long. The flowers are woolly. The petals are 4 mm long and white. They have a bad smell. The fruit is a berry. It is oval and 6-8 mm long and red.

Edible Uses

Young shoots and leaves are eaten uncooked or blanched; fruit and flowers are also edible.

Traditional Uses

The young shoots and leaves are eaten uncooked or blanched.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Used in medicine and has established anti-cancer properties.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in mixed deciduous or evergreen forests by streams. It needs good drainage. In Samoa it grows from sea level to 300 m altitude and to 900 m altitude in Fiji. In Townsville palmetum.

Where It Grows

American Samoa, Asia*, Australia*, East Timor, Fiji, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Malesia, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Niue, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Samoa, SE Asia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from fresh seed. It can also be grown from cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - sown fresh, it can germinate in 12 - 47 days.

Other Uses

The wood is light in weight, durable. It is used for light construction, furniture and handles, but is of little economic interest.

Production

It is relatively slow growing.

Notes

There are about 10 Micromelum species. They grow in Asia and the Pacific. It is used in medicine. It has established anti-cancer properties.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Beri jerukan, Chemama, Chememar, Cherek-cherek, Cherek puteh, Hatsakhun, Jejawi, Kayu saga, Kimangoko, Langgu, Litsoso, Mali-mali, Pohon kimangkok, Talafalu, Tamafalu, Thenghanso, Titimah

References (30)

• Anon., 2003, Native Plants for the Fitzroy basin. Society for Growing Australian Plants Inc. (Rockhampton Branch) p 67
• Bourret, D., 1981, Bonnes-Plantes de Nouvelle-Caledonie et des Loyaute. ORSTOM. p 31
• Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 1493
• Cabalion, P. and Morat, P., 1983, Introduction le vegetation, la flore et aux noms vernaculaires de l'ile de Pentcoste (Vanuatu), In: Journal d'agriculture traditionnelle et de botanique appliquee JATBA Vol. 30, 3-4
• Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 470

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