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Limonia acidissima
Rutaceae FAMILY

Limonia acidissima

Limonia acidissima

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitDeciduous Tree
GrowthSlow

A plant of the drier tropical and subtropical lowlands, where it is found at elevations up to 450 metres. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperatures are within the range 20 - 29°c, and the mean annual rainfall is in the range 800 - 1,200mm, preferring a monsoon climate with a distinct dry season[1]. Prefers a deep, well-drained but moisture-retentive loamy soil in full sun[2]. Tolerates a wide range of soils, but prefers lighter ones[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6[2]. A slow-growing tree. Seedling trees can take 15 years before they commence producing fruit[1]. There are two forms of the species, one has large, sweet-tasting fruits whilst the other has small, acid fruits[1]. The plant is usually deciduous, but is often evergreen in tropical climates[2]. The leaves smell of aniseed[3].

Propagation

Seed - Root cuttings. Air layering. Budding onto seedling stock. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Limonia+acidissima>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
  2. [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  3. [3]Flora of Pakistan — http://www.efloras.org ↩︎As of 2006, there is not much information on habitats available, but it is being developed and promises to be an excellent resource.
  4. [4]The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants — Chevallier. A. · Dorling Kindersley. London · 1996 · ISBN 9-780751-303148 ↩︎An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
  5. [5]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
  6. [6]Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants — http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 ↩︎Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
  7. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎