Garraway lime, Mount White Lime
Citrus garrawayi

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It has a dense bushy habit. It can grow up to 15 m tall but is often 2-6 m tall and 2-4 m wide. Leaves are 1-6 cm long and 1-2.5 cm across. The leaves are broader than finger lime. The leaves are dull green, thick and leathery. Sometimes leaves have broad notches at the tip. Twigs have thorns. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. They are 1 cm across and white. They have a scent. The fruit are finger shaped and 5-10 cm long by 1-3.5 cm wide. They have both a green skin and a green pulp. The skin is up to 2 mm thick and rough. The skin contains large oil glands. Cut fruit smell of citrus. There are few seeds which are 7 mm long.

There are 5 Microcitrus species. There are 20 Citrus species. Several hybrids have been formed.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows naturally in the Gulf District in Australia and on Goodenough Island in Papua New Guinea. It grows as an understorey shrub in the deciduous vine forests. Plants need some protection when small. They need good drainage. Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Pacific, Papua New Guinea

How it is used for food

The fruit can be used for processing into drinks or marmalade.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. They can be grown from cuttings on a heat bed but rooting is slow and can take 6 months. They can be budded onto citrus rootstocks. Because the buds are small this takes some skill to be successful.

Plants are slow growing. In Australia, plants develop flowers from August to December and fruit from April to November. An average fruit weighs 25 g.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Microcitrus garawayi (Bailey) Swingle; Citrus garawayae;