What is lime - what kind of plant is it and how does it grow

Cultivated for thousands of years in the Indo-Malayan region, limes are prized for their tasty fruit and ornamental leaves. Lime juice is most often used in cooking. Tart and sweet at the same time, it serves as a signature ingredient in desserts, marinades and cocktails.

In Russia, they learned about this representative of citrus fruits quite recently. The article will tell you what kind of fruit it is, what it looks like and where it grows.

What is lime

Lime is a fruit from the Rutaceae family. It belongs to the botanically complex genus of citrus fruits. The complexity is explained by the fact that species of this genus easily hybridize.

Only recent research has made it possible to determine the origin of this plant. Most of the species currently grown are hybrids of lemon (Citrus medica), tangerine (Citrus reticulata), pomelo (Citrus maxima) and the wild citrus fruit micrantha (Citrus micrantha).

The common belief that lime is a green lemon is wrong. Although they are related, they belong to different species.

Botanical description

The fruit is round or ovoid, green in color, 3-6 cm in diameter. The pulp is green, juicy, sour. The peel is green, yellowish-green or yellow. When fully ripe, the skin is thin. The fruit contains several seeds.

Lime is a highly branching tree or shrub. The crown is round, spreading, with numerous branches covered with short thorns. Leaves oval, smooth, dark green, up to 6 cm long and 4 cm wide. They are held on a short petiole with rounded lionfish.

The flowers are small, white, up to 2 cm in diameter. Inflorescences are formed in the axils of the leaves and consist of 1-7 flowers.

Reference. Ripe fruits are stored for 1.5-2 months at temperatures from +8 to +10°C and relative air humidity of 85-90%.

At home, in the tropics, flowering and ripening of fruits occurs throughout the year. The lime tree grows up to 5 m in height. Fruiting occurs at 3-5 years of plant life. The main flowering occurs in May-June. The period from August to October is when the main lime harvest ripens.

Unripe fruits have a green skin, and when the lime is ripe, the skin turns yellow.

Growing regions

In the wild, limes grow where it is warm and humid all year round. The exact region of origin of the lime tree is unknown. It is believed that wild varieties first appeared in Indonesia or other countries in Southeast Asia and were later transported to the Mediterranean region and North Africa (around 1000 AD).

In the 19th century To prevent the spread of scurvy, British sailors received a lemon or lime daily. The use of citrus fruit was initially protected as a military secret, since scurvy was a common scourge of various national navies. Due to the consumption of limes, British sailors received the nickname Limey.

In 2018, global production of this fruit amounted to 19.4 million tons. 65% is provided by Mexico, India, China, Argentina, Brazil and Turkey.

Interesting fact. Since 1950, Mexico has been considered the world's largest producer and exporter of lime. In 2014, a hurricane swept through the country, destroying most of the harvest, as a result of which prices for this fruit soared. The event was called the Lime Panic.

Two popular varietiesgrown in Mexico are the Mexican lime (Citrus aurantifolia) and the Persian lime (Citrus latifolia). The first is of Indo-Malay origin and was brought to Mexico by the Spaniards in 1520. And the second came to Mexico from the USA.

Limes are grown in small quantities in Uzbekistan (here the plant is called mevasi). Citrus fruits have been grown in this country since 1959. Tashkent even has its own lemonarium, where a unique variety of Uzbek lemon was bred, which has gained fame and recognition far beyond Asia.

In Russia

In Russia, growing real lime in open ground is impossible, since it is a tropical plant that requires heat and humidity throughout the year.

Lime trees are grown in small quantities in greenhouses and at home. With proper care, they bloom and bear fruit like their tropical counterparts.

At home, citrus fruits are also grown for decorative purposes. This evergreen shrub is prized for its fragrant white flowers, beautiful green fruits and rich, vibrant foliage.

Features of cultivation and ripening time

Indoor lime needs timely watering and fertilization. The plant is propagated by seeds, which remain viable for 2-3 weeks. Sow the seeds in a large, deep container. Seedlings grow large, with a developed root system.

For successful growth, the plant is provided with a temperature of at least +25°C. After pecking the seeds from a jar or film, a mini-greenhouse is built. When the day length is less than 12 hours, the plant is additionally illuminated.

Watering is carried out regularly, preventing the earthen coma from drying out. Spray the foliage regularly. If there is a lack of moisture, the tree sheds it. Lime is also propagated by cuttings and layering.The cuttings are unpretentious and take root quickly.

Fruiting begins at 3-5 years. The tree blooms mainly in spring, and the fruits ripen in autumn. Flowering and fruiting are possible throughout the year.

When grown indoors, the plant needs pruning. The bush is formed as a small tree with a thick trunk and branches growing to the sides.

Use in cooking

Limes contain more sugar and acids than lemons. Lime juice used to make lemonades and added to cocktails.

It is also a common ingredient in Mexican, Vietnamese and Thai dishes. Thus, lime soup is a traditional dish of the Mexican state of Yucatan. And pickled limes are an integral part of Indian cuisine. In the south of the country, the fruit forms an important part of the diet.

The use of dried limes (called black limes, or lumi) as a flavoring is common in Persian and Iraqi cuisine. In America, they bake traditional key lime pie. In Australia, the fruit is used to make marmalade.

Conclusion

Citrus lime is not a green lemon, as many people believe, but a full-fledged fruit of a separate type, widely used by culinary specialists in many countries. A yellow lime is also not a lemon, but a ripe lime fruit.

In Russia, the fruit is grown in small quantities in greenhouses and at home. As an ornamental plant, lime trees are prized for their fragrant flowers and vibrant greenery.