Pink lime
Glycosmis trifoliata
Family: Rutaceae
What it is like
A small to medium shrub. It grows up to 5 m high. The young shoots are bright green and shiny. The stems are smooth and brown. The leaves are 10-25 cm long and divided along their length. There are 1-3 leaflets which are 8-12 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. The leaflets are oval and of thick texture. The edges can be wavy or irregular. The leaves are dark green above and dull beneath. The leaves have a smell when crushed. The flowers are densely packed together and grow on old wood. They hang down and have brown hairs. The flowers are about 0.3 cm across and white with a sweet scent. The fruit is a berry which is 0.5 cm across. It is pale pink when mature. Often the berry has 3 cells. There are 1 or 2 seeds.
There are about 60 Glycosmis species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It often grows naturally in coastal rainforests. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 740 m altitude. It needs well drained soil. It grows in vine thickets behind coastal sand dunes. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten when ripe. They are pinkish red. The leaves are dried and ground to a powder and used to make a wine like drink using rice and soybeans.
Edible parts
Fruit, leaves
How it is grown
It can be grown from seed. The seed should be sown fresh. The seed may not germinate regularly.
In Australia, plants flower from September to December (February to June) and fruit are mature May to July. It may have a wide flowering and fruiting season.
Its other names
Local names
Chan-kiue, Moolinyj, Mulindj, Mulinji