Lime is a small, densely and irregularly branched evergreen tree growing up to 5 metres tall.
Its twigs are armed with short, stiff, sharp spines.
Widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas, especially the West Indies, Mexico, Florida, Egypt and southeast Asia, for its edible fruit.
Everyday ingredient in southeast Asian food, grown in gardens and commercially.

Known Hazards

None known

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation.

Cultivation Status

Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Three main climates are suitable for commercial citrus production - tropical climates, subtropical with winter rain such as in the Mediterranean and semitropical with summer rainfall as found in Florida and southern Brazil.
Limes grow at elevations up to 2,200 metres.
Optimal temperatures for cultivation 25 - 30°c, growth ceases below 13°c and above 38°c.
Competitive in areas with 700 to 1,000 mm mean annual precipitation.
If dry periods exceed three months, irrigation needed.
Prefers deep, well-drained but moisture-retentive loamy soil in full sun.
Quite drought-resistant.
pH 6 - 6.5, tolerating 4.8 - 8.3.
Flowers and fruits year-round.
Layered trees fruit in second year; substantial crop in third year.
Yield varies by region and conditions.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw, cooked or as flavouring.
Thin-skinned, very acid, juicy, fragrant; adds flavour, garnish.
Rich flavour, acid taste in hot, spicy dishes, fresh, pickled, sauced.
Jams, marmalades, jellies, juices (often combined with other fruits).
Dried limes in Persian cuisine.
Ovate fruit, 3 - 6cm diameter.
Chopped peel for sweetmeat.
Leaves in soups.
Condiment in Javanese dishes.

Medicinal

Lime is aromatic, astringent, cooling.
Various parts used medicinally: leaves, fruit, peel, essential oils.
Leaf infusion for minor complaints, bilious headaches, colds.
Leaf infusion with Renealmia guianensis for abortion.
Leaf bath with Begonia glabra, Ocimum campechianum for hot feet.
Fruit juice for 'viccis', fever leading to sleep desire, relaxed digestive muscles.
Juice in medicinal preparations for diarrhoea, chest colds, fevers.
Mixed with grated garlic, water for snakebite.
Applied externally to cleanse wounds.
Mixed with oil, rubbed on stomach for muscle sag.
Ground itch, dandruff treatments.
Root anthelmintic, contraceptive.
Root for haemorrhages, venereal disease.
Boiled root water with alcohol to abort up to six-week foetus.

Agroforestry Uses

None Recorded

Other Uses

Essential oil, lime oil, from peel, source of chitral.
Used in perfume, soap, chewing gum, food, sweets.
Another oil, lime-leaf oil, from leaves.
Semi-drying oil from seed, used in soap making.

Propagation

Seed best sown in containers as soon as it is ripe, after thoroughly rinsing it.
Sow stored seed in containers as soon as possible.
Germination usually within 2 - 3 weeks at 13°c.
Seedlings prone to damp off, water carefully, ventilate well.
Polyembryonic seed, genetically identical to parent, usually virus-free.
Prick seedlings into pots when 10cm or more tall, plant in permanent positions.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. This species grows easily from cuttings.
Air layering.