Persian lime

? Persian lime
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Sublass: Rosidae Order: Sapindales Family: Rutaceae Genus: Citrus Species: C. latifolia
Binomial name
Citrus latifolia (Yu. Tanaka) Tanaka

Persian Lime (Citrus x latifolia), also known as Tahiti lime or Bearss lime, is a citrus fruit grown commercially in the U.S. and sold simply as a "lime". The fruit is about 6 cm in diameter, often with slightly nippled ends, and is usually sold quite green, although it yellows as it reaches full ripeness. It is larger, thicker-skinned, and less aromatic than the key lime, which has a wider agricultural distribution worldwide. The advantages of the Persian lime in commercial agriculture compared to the Key lime are the larger size, absence of seeds, hardiness, absence of thorns on the bushes, and longer fruit shelf life. They are less acidic than key limes and don't have the bitterness that lends to the key lime's unique flavor. Persian limes are commercialized primarily in six sizes, known as 110's, 150's, 175's, 200's, 230's and 250's. Grown primarily in Florida in the U.STemplate:Verify source, it rose to prominence after Key lime orchards were wiped out there by a hurricane in 1926, though Persian lime orchards themselves were devastated by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Large numbers of Persian limes are grown, processed and exported every year primarily from Martínez de la Torre, Veracruz, MexicoTemplate:Verify source, to the American, European and Asian Markets. U.S. Persian lime imports from Mexico are handled mostly through McAllen, Texas.

Tree Characteristics

Seed type: Angiosperm

Leaf shape: Ovate shaped with whole margins

Leaf position: Alternate

Type of fruit: Hesperidium

References

• Tahiti lime botany, agriculture, and history
• history and use of limes
• history and varieties of limes
• Key limes and others