File:Citrus aurantiifolia in Kadavoor.jpg

Summary

English: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrus_aurantifolia" class="extiw" title="w:Citrus aurantifolia">Citrus aurantifolia</a>, Key lime, is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrus" class="extiw" title="en:Citrus">citrus</a> species with a globose fruit, 2.5–5 cm in diameter (1–2 in), that is yellow when ripe but usually picked green commercially. It is smaller and seedier, with a higher acidity, a stronger aroma, and a thinner rind, than that of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_lime" class="extiw" title="en:Persian lime">Persian lime</a> (Citrus x latifolia). It is valued for its unique flavor compared to other limes, with the Key lime usually having a more tart and bitter flavor. The name comes from its association with the Florida Keys, where it is best known as the flavoring ingredient in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_lime_pie" class="extiw" title="en:Key lime pie">Key lime pie</a>. It is also known as West Indian lime, Bartender’s lime, Omani lime, or Mexican lime, the latter classified as a distinct race with a thicker skin and darker green color.

C. aurantifolia is a shrubby tree, to 5 m (16 ft), with many thorns. Dwarf varieties exist which can be grown indoors during winter months and in colder climates. Its trunk rarely grows straight, with many branches, often originating quite far down on the trunk. The leaves are ovate, 2.5–9 cm (1–3.5 in) long, resembling orange leaves (the scientific name aurantifolia refers to this resemblance to the leaves of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_(fruit)" class="extiw" title="en:Orange (fruit)">orange, C. aurantium</a>). The flowers are 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter, are yellowish white with a light purple tinge on the margins. Flowers and fruit appear throughout the year, but are most abundant from May to September in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Hemisphere" class="extiw" title="w:Northern Hemisphere">Northern Hemisphere</a>.

C. aurantifolia is native to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia" class="extiw" title="w:Southeast Asia">Southeast Asia</a>. Its apparent path of introduction was through the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East" class="extiw" title="w:Middle East">Middle East</a> to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Africa" class="extiw" title="w:North Africa">North Africa</a>, then to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicily" class="extiw" title="w:Sicily">Sicily</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andalucia" class="extiw" title="w:Andalucia">Andalucia</a> and via <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish" class="extiw" title="w:Spanish">Spanish</a> explorers to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Indies" class="extiw" title="w:West Indies">West Indies</a>, including the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Keys" class="extiw" title="w:Florida Keys">Florida Keys</a>. From the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean" class="extiw" title="w:Caribbean">Caribbean</a>, lime cultivation spread to tropical and subtropical <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America" class="extiw" title="w:North America">North America</a>, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico" class="extiw" title="w:Mexico">Mexico</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" class="extiw" title="w:Florida">Florida</a>, and later <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" class="extiw" title="w:California">California</a>.

Licensing

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.