Citrus × aurantiifolia

Common name: Key lime, Mexican lime, Lime.

Description: A small evergreen citrus tree with thorny branches, aromatic leaves, fragrant white flowers and small acidic fruits.

Identification: Glossy gland-dotted leaves; fragrant flowers; small green-to-yellow acidic fruits.

Habitat & distribution: Cultivated widely in tropical and subtropical regions, including India. Kew recognizes it as an accepted hybrid.

Uses / importance: Fruit is widely used in food, beverages, pickles and traditional preparations.

Taxonomy:
Kingdom – Plantae
Clade – Angiosperms
Clade – Eudicots
Order – Sapindales
Family – Rutaceae
Genus – Citrus
Species – C. × aurantiifolia

Sources: Kew POWO; IPNI.

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