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''Citrus limetta'', alternatively considered to be a
cultivar
A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture ...
of '' Citrus limon'', ''C. limon'' 'Limetta', is a species of ''citrus
''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus ''Citrus'' is native to ...
'', commonly known as mousami, musami, sweet lime, sweet lemon, and sweet limetta, it is a member of the sweet lemon
Sweet lemon and Sweet lime refer to groups of citrus hybrids that contain low acid pulp and juice. They are hybrids often similar to non-sweet lemons or limes, but with less citron parentage. Sweet limes and lemons are not sharply separated:
...
s. It is small and round like a common lime in shape. It is a cross between the citron
The citron (''Citrus medica''), historically cedrate, is a large fragrant citrus fruit with a thick rind. It is said to resemble a 'huge, rough lemon'. It is one of the original citrus fruits from which all other citrus types developed throu ...
(''Citrus medica'') and a bitter orange
Bitter orange, Seville orange, bigarade orange, or marmalade orange is the citrus tree ''Citrus'' × ''aurantium'' and its fruit. It is native to Southeast Asia and has been spread by humans to many parts of the world. It is probably a cross be ...
(''Citrus'' × ''aurantium'').
It is native to southern regions of Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
and also cultivated in the Mediterranean Basin.
* In Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
it is called ''limu shirin'' (, meaning 'sweet lemon' in Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
). Its juice is widely used throughout Iran in the fall and winter as a remedy for colds and flu.
* In India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, it is commonly called ''mausambi'', ''mosambi'', or ''musambi'' in Hindi ( or ) ''Mosambi'' (मोसंबी) in Marathi, ''Moushumi'' or ''mushumbi lebu'' (মৌসুমী বা মুসুম্বি লেবু) in Bengali, ''satukudi'' or ''satukodi'' () in Tamil, ''musambi'' () in Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
, ''battayi'' () in Telugu, ''chinikaya'' () in Rayalaseema, and ''musambi'' () in Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 2 ...
.
* In Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...
, it is called ''musambi'' or ''mosambi'' (, in Bengali).
* In Nepali, it is called ''mausam''.
* In Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...
, usually, it is called ''musami'' (, in Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu"
'' Sindh, it is known as ''mosami''. * Among Iraqi Armenians, it is called ''noumi'' (). * In
''C. limetta'' is a small tree up to in height, with irregular branches and relatively smooth, brownish-grey bark. It has numerous thorns, long. The petioles are narrowly but distinctly winged, and are long. Leaves are 
''C. limetta'' grows in tropical and subtropical climates. It begins bearing fruit at 5 to 7 years old, with peak production at 10 to 20 years. It is propagated by
As the name ''sweet lime'' suggests, the flavour is sweet and mild, but retains the essence of lime. The lime's taste changes rapidly in contact with air, and will turn bitter in few minutes, but if drunk soon after being juiced, the taste is sweet. The flavour is a bit flatter than most citrus due to its lack of acidity. It can be compared to
'' Sindh, it is known as ''mosami''. * Among Iraqi Armenians, it is called ''noumi'' (). * In
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
, it is sometimes called ''bergamot''; it should not be confused with '' Citrus bergamia'', the bergamot orange.
* In the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with ...
, it is called ''limón dulce'', ''lima dulce'', ''dulce limeta'', or ''limettioides dulces'', because of this sweetness in these two citrus fruits.
It is a different fruit from the Palestinian sweet lime and from familiar sour limes
Limes may refer to:
* the plural form of lime (disambiguation)
Lime commonly refers to:
* Lime (fruit), a green citrus fruit
* Lime (material), inorganic materials containing calcium, usually calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide
* Lime (color), a ...
such as the Key lime and the Persian lime. However, genomic analysis revealed it to be highly similar to the Rhobs el Arsa
Rhobs al-Arsa (''Citrus limon'' (L.) Burm. f.) is a very popular citrus fruit in Morocco.
Names
Rhobs al-Arsa is Arabic for bread of the garden, or ''"Garden Loaf"''. This citrus hybrid has many other names, such as Al-zanbu, Khoubs al-Arsa, Ko ...
, and the two likely represent progeny of distinct crosses of the same citrus parents.
The South Asian cultivars originated in Mozambique
Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
and were brought to South Asia by the Portuguese. The common name musambi and its variants trace their origin to Mozambique.
Description
''C. limetta'' is a small tree up to in height, with irregular branches and relatively smooth, brownish-grey bark. It has numerous thorns, long. The petioles are narrowly but distinctly winged, and are long. Leaves are compound
Compound may refer to:
Architecture and built environments
* Compound (enclosure), a cluster of buildings having a shared purpose, usually inside a fence or wall
** Compound (fortification), a version of the above fortified with defensive struc ...
, with acuminate
The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular ...
leaflets long and wide. Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
s are white, wide. Fruit
In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering.
Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...
s are oval and green, ripening to yellow, with greenish pulp. The pith is white and about thick. Despite the name ''sweet lime'', the fruit is more similar to a greenish orange in appearance.
''C. limetta'' grows in tropical and subtropical climates. It begins bearing fruit at 5 to 7 years old, with peak production at 10 to 20 years. It is propagated by seed
A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...
.
Flavour
As the name ''sweet lime'' suggests, the flavour is sweet and mild, but retains the essence of lime. The lime's taste changes rapidly in contact with air, and will turn bitter in few minutes, but if drunk soon after being juiced, the taste is sweet. The flavour is a bit flatter than most citrus due to its lack of acidity. It can be compared to limeade
Limeade is a lime-flavored drink sweetened with sugar. A typical method of preparation is to juice limes, and combine the juice with simple syrup or honey syrup, along with some additional water and perhaps more sugar or honey. Vodka or white ...
and pomelo
The pomelo ( ), ''Citrus maxima'', is the largest citrus fruit from the family Rutaceae and the principal ancestor of the grapefruit. It is a natural, non-hybrid, citrus fruit, native to Southeast Asia. Similar in taste to a sweet grapefr ...
.
Uses
Sweet lime is served as juice and is good as a mixer for vodka or rum. It is the most common available citrus juice in theIndian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent is a list of the physiographic regions of the world, physiographical region in United Nations geoscheme for Asia#Southern Asia, Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian O ...
. The juice is commonly sold at mobile road stalls.
Like most citrus, the fruit is rich in vitamin C
Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, also sold as a dietary supplement and as a topical 'serum' ingredient to treat melasma (dark pigment spots) ...
, providing 50 mg per 100 g serving and antioxidants. In Iran it is popular as a house remedy to treat influenza and the common cold.
The tree is used for ornamental purposes as well as for graft stock.
Checking for ripeness
Like most ''citrus
''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus ''Citrus'' is native to ...
'', sweet limes will not ripen off the tree, and must be picked when fully ripe. This is indicated by its tennis ball size and lustrous greenish yellow sheen. Gently scratch the surface of a sweet lime: If its oils give way in the fingernails, it is ripe. The juiciest fruits feel heavy for their size.
Underripe fruit feels light for its size, and is hard with tart flesh. Overripe fruit is dull and shrunken, with dry, spongy skin. Avoid fruit with brownish-yellow discoloration.
Storage
Sweet limes keep fresh for up to two weeks at room temperature, and four to eight weeks refrigerated. Frozen juice will keep for up to six months. It is possible to freeze slices of the fruit, though thelimonin
Limonin is a limonoid, and a bitter, white, crystalline substance found in citrus and other plants. It is also known as limonoate D-ring-lactone and limonoic acid di-delta-lactone. Chemically, it is a member of the class of compounds known as fu ...
content may cause the pulp to taste bitter over time. This can be avoided by submerging the slices in sweet syrup within an airtight glass jar.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2405517 Agriculture in Pakistan Agriculture in India limetta