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Of limes `n' lemons

Lime trees make attractive houseplants

The genus citrus comprises 16 species of small spiny trees and shrubs, including those that bear limes, lemons, oranges, tangerines and grape fruit.

While still young they make attractive houseplants because of their lustrous, dark green foliage, plentiful white flowers and light coloured fruits.

Citrus aurantifolis or nimbu has glossy rough oval leaves on short stalks with spiny stems and branches.

Fragrant flowers

Fragrant, shallow and cup-shaped, the five-petalled white flowers are borne on small auxiliary racemes.

The tree grows up to a height of 6-8 feet in an orchard. Leaves up to four inches long and rounded are dark green. Fruits are round and green until fully developed. When they slowly ripen, they turn yellowish green and yellow.

The process may take two months and the ripe fruit may remain on the branches for several weeks. The normal flowering season is summer, but occasionally flowers may appear at any time of the year. Many trees flower almost continuously.

Rich in Vitamin C

Limes are rich in Vitamin C, pectin, sugar and carotene. This fruit is too acidic to be used as a dessert, but is in great demand for pickles. Lemonade can be made as the fruit has a high juice content. Propagation is by seeds.

A native of south-east Asia, citrus is commercially grown in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Assam. Nimbu or lime is more popular than lemon, but it is often wrongly referred to as lemon from which it is botanically distinct.

Lemon on the other hand is usually larger than lime and has a thick rough rind.

CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN

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