CITRUS × AURANTIFOLIA: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, PROPERTIES, CARE - BIOLOGY - 2025

Citrus × aurantifolia, commonly known as limero, is a fruit tree belonging to the Rutaceae family, whose fruit is called lime. It is a hybrid between Citrus micrantha × Citrus medica, native to Southeast Asia, currently cultivated in hot regions around the world.

The lime tree is a low-growing, widely branched tree with dense, glossy light green foliage. The inflorescences are grouped into aromatic flowers of white-yellowish tones and their oval fruits, rich in essential oils, are yellow when ripe.

Citrus × aurantifolia. Source: YVSREDDY

There are several varieties of limes, but they are usually small, green to yellow fruits with an acid or sweet taste, often bitter. They are traditionally known as limero, acid lime, creole lemon, Peruvian lemon, Mexican lemon, subtle lemon, colima lemon, Ceutí lemon or Pica lemon.

The lime, like the different citrus fruits, has a high content of vitamin C, mineral elements and essential oils. In fact it has diuretic, detoxifying, antiseptic and antiscorbutic properties, being widely used for the treatment of rheumatic complaints, infections and colds.

General characteristics

Tree

The lime tree is a low-growing tree species, with a robust appearance and dense foliage, reaching 4-6 meters in height. Its trunk, normally curved, has a smooth bark and various branches from the base, with small hard and firm axillary spines.

Leaves

The oblong, elliptical or ovate evergreen leaves are bright green in color and 3-9 cm long and 2-6 cm wide. The apex is slightly trimmed and the base is oval with the margins subtly scalloped and the petiole completely winged.

flowers

The strongly fragrant yellowish-white flowers of 2-3 cm in diameter are arranged in axillary inflorescences in groups of up to 7-8 flowers. They are characterized by their five-petalled corolla with a fine reddish line through the edges and protruding stamens.

Fruit

The fruit is a globose or oval berry with a dark green rind initially to yellowish-green or yellow when ripe. Its diameter varies from 4-5 cm, it has a thin skin and easy to tear, with a greenish pulp and a strongly acid juice.

Fruits of Citrus × aurantifolia. Source: Citrus_aurantifolia_Mexican_Lime.png: T.VoeklerLimes.jpg: Steve Hopson - SteveHopsonCitrus_ × aurantiifolia927505341.jpg: Matt from Las Vegas, USACitrus_lime.png: Oven_Freshderivative work: Nova

Through crossbreeding practices, various cultivars with different degrees of acidity and bark tones have been created. The fruit juice contains a high percentage of citric acid and vitamin C or ascorbic acid.

Seeds

The small, oval-shaped seeds are obtained from ripe fruits. Seed propagation is a method used to obtain healthy and vigorous patterns.

Composition

The peel of the lime fruit contains various essential oils - 2.5% - which give it particular properties. Among them the flavonoids citronine, diosmosido, hesperidoside, noboletin, limocitrin and tangerina, as well as D-limonene, phelandrene, citronellal, myrcene, a and b pinene.

The pulp of the fruit contains up to 8% citric acid and ascorbic acid or vitamin C. In addition to malic acid, acetic acid and formic acid, the flavanone glucoside hesperidin, pectins, b-carotenes and various vitamins.

On the other hand, they contain carbohydrates, fibers and proteins, minerals such as calcium and potassium. Even bergapteno and limetina coumarins.

Citrus × aurantifolia flowers. Source: Forest & Kim Starr

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae

- Division: Magnoliophyta

- Class: Magnoliopsida

- Order: Sapindales

- Family: Rutaceae

- Subfamily: Citroideae

- Tribe: Citreae

- Genus: Citrus

- Species: Citrus × aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle

Etymology

- Citrus: the name of the genus derives from the Hispanic Arabic «lima», this in turn from the Arabic «līmah», this from the Persian «limú» and this from the Sanskrit «nimbú», related to the acid lime.

- aurantifolia: specific Latin adjective that means "with golden leaves."

Synonymy

- Citrus × acid Pers.

- Citrus × davaoensis (Wester) Yu. Tanaka

- C. depressa var. voangasay (Bojer) Bory

- C. × excelsa Wester

- Citrus × excelsa var. davaoensis Wester

- Citrus × hystrix subsp. Acida Engl.

- C. × javanica Blume

- C. lima Lunan

- Citrus × macrophylla Wester

- Citrus medica var. acid brandis

- C. medica f. aurantiifolium (Christm.) M.Hiroe

- C. × montana (Wester) Yu. Tanaka

- Citrus. × nipis Michel

- Citrus × notissima White

- C. × Hassk papaya.

- C. × pseudolimonum Wester

- Citrus × spinosissima G. Mey.

- Citrus × webberi var. Montana Wester

- Limonia × aurantiifolia Christm.

Habitat and distribution

The critics are a group of fruit plants that have existed in the wild for approximately 20 million years. Its origin is located throughout Southeast Asia, from Persia to Burma, Indonesia and Malaysia, from where they passed to North Africa.

In the Middle East and Europe they were introduced during the time of the crusades, being the Arabs who established it in Spain. In the Iberian Peninsula it is cultivated in the southern region and along the eastern coast, mainly in Malaga.

Citrus × aurantifolia flowering tree. Source: കാക്കര

It was brought to South America by the Spanish colonizers who entered various foreign species of animals and plants by the Viceroyalty of Peru. In this region it is known as -lemon criollo- and from this region it was introduced throughout the continent.

In Peru, it is the fundamental ingredient of a great diversity of typical dishes, being used as a dressing and ingredient for drinks. Since its domestication, its cultivation has spread globally and has evolved according to the characteristics of each region.

Properties

Citrus × aurantifolia is grown essentially to obtain essential oils from the peel of the fruit. Indeed, these essential oils have characteristics similar to lemon and are used in the food industry to make beverages.

In addition, the essences obtained from the fruit of the lime tree are in high demand in the detergent and perfume industry. On the other hand, it is used as an additive in the preparation of sweets and jams to preserve and add flavor.

On the other hand, the fruit juice has a high content of ascorbic acid -vitamin C-, citric acid and pectins. In fact, these compounds are the active principle of various drugs marketed by the pharmaceutical industry.

Medicinal

In an artisanal way, lime juice has antibacterial activity on various pathogenic bacteria, such as E. aerogenes, E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Likewise, antifungal trials have demonstrated its effectiveness against various dermatophytes such as C. albicans, the causative agent of oral or vaginal candidiasis.

The fresh juice of the fruit favors the healing of external wounds, since it acts as a healing agent and an antibiotic at the same time. Prepared as an infusion or tea made from the leaves, roots and bark of the fruit, it is used for the symptomatic treatment of the common cold.

On the other hand, it is used effectively to soothe toothaches, digestive problems, women's diseases, headaches and arthritis. In addition, it is used to relieve cough, flu, migraine, throat infection, tonsillitis, skin conditions, fungi, and gallbladder disorders.

Citrus × aurantifolia is widely used for medicinal purposes. Source: pixabay.com

Gastronomy

Some cultivars of lime produce fruits with a high content of juice that is used as a dressing or additive in gastronomy. In fact, the juice is used to dress salads and seafood, as well as an ingredient in drinks, ice cream and traditional lemonade.

Industrial

Essential oils rich in flavonoids such as citronine, limocitrine, tangerine and noboletine are used as a flavoring agent in perfumery. In fact, these oils are raw material to provide aromas to various foods, beverages, lotions, detergents, cosmetics and varnishes.

The wood of the lime tree is used as firewood to obtain charcoal. In addition, it is a firm and moldable wood for making crafts, tool handles and kitchen utensils.

Aromatherapy

The essences of lime are used in aromatherapy to calm resentment and mistrust. As well as to improve apathy, brighten and refresh the spirit, and lift the spirits.

Cosmetology

Creams made with lime juice help cleanse and purify oily skin. Additionally, it can be used to remove skin blemishes, tone hands, and condition nails and cuticle.

Care

Citrus × aurantifolia, is a crop adapted to temperate, hot and humid climates, as it is not resistant to cold. It grows in full sun exposure or in semi-shade, requires protection against strong winds and tolerates occasional droughts.

It adapts to soils of limestone origin, loose, well drained, fertile and rich in organic matter, with a sandy loam texture. Indeed, it tolerates soils with a wide pH range, between 5-8, with the ideal pH being 6-6.5.

Citrus × aurantifolia seedling. Source: Vinayaraj

During the establishment of the crop, the seedlings are very susceptible to waterlogging, so it is recommended to regulate the irrigation in this phase. However, in the production phase, the lack of irrigation affects the productivity and quality of flowering and fruiting.

Propagation is carried out asexually through grafting on robust rootstocks of lemon, citron or orange trees. Sexual reproduction is carried out by means of selected seeds of healthy, productive plants that are free of pests or diseases.

Plants obtained through seeds start flowering at 3-6 years, being at 8-10 years when they reach full production. The fruits ripen on the plant after 5-6 months after flowering.

Lime trees developed from grafting tend to produce fruit from the first year, but reach maximum productivity after 3-4 years. Formation pruning is essential in the first years; later only sanitary pruning or fruit thinning are necessary to increase their size.

References

1. Bissanti, Guido (2019) Citrus aurantiifolia. Coltivazione ed usi del Lime. An Eco-sustainable World. Recovered in: antropocene.it
2. Citrus × aurantifolia. (2019). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
3. Citrus x aurantifolia (2018) Botanical Garden of the University of Malaga. Recovered at: jardinbotanico.uma.es
4. Properties of the lime (2019) Botanical-Online SL. Recovered at: botanical-online.com
5. Sánchez de Lorenzo-Cáceres, JM (2007) Ornamental Trees. Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle. Recovered in: arbolesornamentales.es
6. Santistevan Méndez, M., Helfgott Lerner, S., Loli Figueroa, O., & Julca Otiniano, A. (2017). Behavior of lemon cultivation (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) in »type farms» in Santa Elena, Ecuador. Idesia (Arica), 35 (1), 45-49.
7. Vegas Rodríguez, Ulises & Narrea Cango, Mónica (2011) Integrated Management of Lemon Cultivation. La Molina National Agrarian University. Academic Office of Extension and Projection.