Key lime

Key Lime, ripe fruit

The Key Lime (Citrus × aurantiifolia ), also called acid lime or Mexican lime, is a species of the genus citrus plants in the rue family ( Rutaceae ). The light coming from the French word meaning small lime lime ( = orange ).

Description

The fruit of this plant is also called " Key Lime "; it is smaller than the ordinary lime, often only the size of a ping pong ball, and contains, in contrast to ordinary lime many seeds. The shell of the ripe fruit is yellow, but it is usually picked for trading green and immature. Citrus × aurantiifolia grows as a small, highly branched, thorny bush with thinner stems than Citrus × latifolia.

In Thailand, a form of Citrus × aurantiifolia is grown in the Fruit ( Grapefruit form in table tennis ball size) and number of fruit segments ( up to 13 ) differs from the normal form.

The leaf is similar in shape to the bitter orange citrus aurantium, from where the name originates aurantiifolia, but somewhat smaller.

The flowers are slightly smaller than the Citrus × latifolia and pure white, the flower buds are in strong sunlight something purple.

The plant is native to tropical regions and does not hibernate, which is why it is also difficult to maintain in pot culture.

Use

Like the Ordinary lime it is mainly used for the extraction of juice and essential oils. A well-known alcoholic mix - drink on the basis of lime is the Brazilian Caipirinha.

Dried limes are referred to in the Gulf States as Loomi and used as a spice.

In Florida it is used for there popular Key Lime Pie.

Others

A 1909 Walter Tennyson Swingle created by intersection of the Real lime with the kumquat is the Limequat (Citrus × floridana )