Citrus aurantiifolia

An evergreen tree growing to 6 m tall by 4 m wide at a medium rate. Hardy to UK zone 10. Self-fertile and noted for attracting wildlife. Adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils, preferring well-drained conditions. Suitable for mildly acid and neutral soils, tolerating very acid and very alkaline soils. Requires full sun and prefers moist soil.

Description

A small much branched evergreen tree. It grows up to 5-6 m tall with short sharp spines. It spreads to 3 m across. The leaves are small and dark green. There are narrow wings on the leaf stalk. The leaf blade is about 5 cm long by 3 cm wide and oval. They have a sweet smell when crushed. There is a thorn at the base of each leaf. (Thorn free kinds are known). The flowers are yellowish white. They are 2.5 cm across and have 5 petals. The flowers are produced in the leaf axils or at the ends of branches. The fruit is small, round 3-4 cm across and become pale orange to yellow when ripe. They are thin skinned. The flesh of the fruit is green. West Indian limes with larger, better fruit also occur. There are several named cultivated varieties.

Edible Uses

The fruit — ovate and 3–6cm in diameter — is eaten raw, cooked, or used as a flavouring. Thin-skinned, very acid, juicy, and fragrant, it is mainly used to add flavour and as a garnish. Its rich flavour and acidity make it a favourite in hot and spicy dishes, used fresh or in pickles and sauces. Limes can also be made into jams, marmalades, jellies, and juices (usually combined with other fruits), and dried limes are widely used in Persian cuisine. The chopped peel is used to make a sweetmeat. Leaves are sometimes added to soups and used as a condiment in Javanese dishes.

Traditional Uses

They are mainly used for juice and drinks. They are preserved in syrup and made into jam, jelly and marmalade. They can be used in pickles. It is used as a coagulant in the manufacture of soft cheeses. The chopped peel can be made into a sweetmeat with milk and coconut. The minced leaves are eaten with roast meat. They are also added to soups.

Medicinal Uses

The lime is an aromatic, astringent, cooling herb, with various parts — leaves, fruit, peel, and essential oils — used medicinally. An infusion of the leaves treats minor complaints such as bilious headaches and colds. Leaves combined with Renealmia guianensis leaves are drunk to induce abortion; combined with leaves of Begonia glabra and Ocimum campechianum, they make a bath for very hot feet. The fruit juice treats 'viccis', a fever causing sleepiness and uncontrollably relaxed digestive muscles. Juice is added to preparations for treating diarrhoea, chest colds, and fevers, and mixed with grated garlic and water as a remedy for snakebite. Applied externally, juice cleanses wounds, is mixed with oil and rubbed on the stomach to relieve sagging muscles of the sexual organs, and is used for ground itch and dandruff. The root is anthelmintic and contraceptive, used for haemorrhages and venereal disease; boiled roots mixed with alcohol are drunk to abort a foetus up to six weeks old.

Distribution

A tropical plant. They need a warm climate and are most common in coastal regions in the lowland tropics. They grow from sea level to 2200 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. They suit humid areas and can survive in poor soils. Light to medium well drained soils are best. It is drought and frost tender. In Hobart Botanical gardens. It grows in Nepal to about 1800 m altitude. It can grow in alkaline soil. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andes, Asia*, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Caroline Islands, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, China, Chuuk, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, FSM, Ghana, Guam, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia*, Maldives, Marquesas, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Middle East, Myanmar*, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tahiti, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies,

Cultivation

They are often grown from seed but are better if grafted. Plants can be grown by cuttings. A spacing of 4-5 metres is suitable. When grown from seed, several shoots may develop from the one seed, which means the seedlings may be identical to the parent.

Propagation

Sow fresh seed in containers as soon as ripe, after thoroughly rinsing. Sow stored seed in containers as soon as possible. Germination usually takes place within 2–3 weeks at 13°C. Seedlings are prone to damping off and must be watered carefully and kept well ventilated. Seed is usually polyembryonic — two or more seedlings arise from each seed, genetically identical to the parent and typically free of any virus present in the parent. Prick out into individual pots when large enough to handle, and grow on until at least 10cm tall before planting into permanent positions. Half-ripe cuttings can be taken in July–August in a frame; this species roots easily from cuttings. Air layering is also suitable.

Other Uses

The lime is well adapted for growing as a hedge, forming dense thickets if left undisturbed, and spreading readily from stout vertical root shoots. It can be established easily from seed or cuttings. An essential oil from the peel, known as lime oil, is a good source of citral and is used in perfumes, soaps, chewing gum, food, and sweets. A separate essential oil known as lime-leaf oil is obtained from the leaves. A semi-drying oil from the seed is used in soap making.

Production

Trees can start producing fruit quickly. They fruit in 5-6 years. They normally produce fruit all the year round. Fruit drop when mature. Black limes are sun dried limes. They are 2.5-4 cm across.

Other Information

Moderately common in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea. It is a cultivated food plant.

Notes

There are 20 Citrus species. Several hybrids have been formed.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Ambu, Angy, Arunam, Besenta, Chanh, Chanh ta, Chulukzapa, Dayap, Dehi, Derem, Elumichai, Erumichinaraham, Hindehi, Jambiri, Jeruk nipis, Jeruk sambal, Kagati, Kaghzi nimbu, Kaghzinimbu, Kagji-nemi, Karer, Key lime, Khatalimbu, Kro'ch chma, Laihpawma, Laim, Laranja-lima, Lawihkri, Laimi, Laini, Lemmetje, Lemon riri'i, Lima-da-persia, Limau asam, Limbe, Limon criollo, Limon mexicana, Lunboa, Maksun-ting, Manao, Mdimu, Moli laimi, Nabbu kaghdi, Nimbe, Nimma, Obulimawa, Patinebu, Peren, Pohon jeruk nipis, Rimo, Shalawi, Shauk-cho, Somma nao, Suan Ningmeng, Sweet lime, Te raim, Thanbaya-cho, Thesikkai, Tsioha, Tumeng, West Indian Lime

References (119)

• AAK, 1980, Bertanam Pohon Buah-buahan. Penerbitan Yayasan Kanisius, Jogyakarta. p 37
• AAK, 1994, Jeruk, Penerbit Kanisius, Jogyakarta. p 200
• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 42
• Alexander, D.M., Scholefield, P.B., Frodsham, A., 1982, Some tree fruits for tropical Australia. CSIRO, Australia. p 49
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 127

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