Wild lime, Kaffir lime
Citrus hystrix

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A low shrubby tree up to 6 or 8 m high. The trunk is thin and crooked. It has slender sharp thorns. The leaf petiole has very large lobes. The leaf is oval. The leaves can be 8-15 cm long by 3-5 cm wide including the leafy stalks. The leaves are dark green and shiny above and pale and matt underneath. The flowers are small and white. The fruit are small (8 cm across) with a rough, thick skin and very little edible pulp inside. They are very acid. The peel of the fruit is very fragrant.

There are 20 Citrus species. Several hybrids have been formed. It contains alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) content of 66.00 mg per 100 g.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It mainly occurs in lowland areas in the tropics. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Cuba, East Africa, East Timor, Europe, Fiji, France, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Myanmar, North Africa, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

The leaves and fruit are used to make drinks or to flavour food. They are added to soups and curries. The leaves are pounded into a jelly and mixed with hot chili pastes. The fruit are eaten crystallised. The juice of the fruit is used for flavouring. The lemon scented fruit are eaten with fish.

A citrus of only minor importance in Papua New Guinea, but cultivated is some coastal areas.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or by grafting. It often now grows wild in coastal areas. It grows slowly.

The tree flowers throughout the year but has most ripe fruit about June and July.

Its other names

Local names

Bai magrood, Caffre lime, Fatt-fung-kam, Ichang lime, Jeruk purut, Jeruk sambal, Kabuyau, Kahpiri dehi, Karokaro, Kolobot, Khatta nabbu, Krauch soeuch, Kro'ch sae'ch, Kudala-dehi, Kulubot, La chanh, Leech lime, Lemon titi'u, Limau purut, Mahkroot, Ma kruut, Makrut, Mauritius papeda, Odu dehi, Papeda, Shauk-cho, Shauk-nu, Shauk-waing, Shouk-pote, Soco ni vavalagi, Soh-kyniet, Som makrut, Swangi, Te remem, Voangabe

Synonyms

Probably syn. Citrus papuana Bail.; Citrus combara Raf.; Fortunella sagittifolia K.M. Feng & P.I. Mao; Citrus bergamia (Duhamel) Risso; Citrus celebica Koord.;