Key lime

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iKey Lime

Key Lime

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Rutaceae
Genus:	Citrus
Species:	C. aurantiifolia

Binomial name

Citrus aurantiifolia
(Christm.) Swingle

The Key lime (Citrus aurantiifolia, Citrus aurantifolia, or Citrus x aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle), also known as the Mexican lime, West Indian lime or Bartender's lime, has a globose fruit, 2.5-5 cm in diameter (1-2 in), that is yellow when ripe but usually picked green. It is smaller, seedier, has a higher acidity, a stronger aroma, and a thinner rind than that of the more common Persian lime. It is valued for its unique flavor compared to other limes, with the key lime usually having a more tart and bitter flavor. It is perhaps most distinguished as an ingredient in the Key lime pie.

C. aurantiifolia is a shrubby tree , to 5 m (16 ft), with many thorns. Dwarf varieties are popular with home growers and can be grown indoors in winter in colder climates. The trunk rarely grows straight, with many branches that often originate 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 aurantiifolia refers to the leaves' resemblance). 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 ^[1] ^[2].

C. aurantiifolia is native to Southeast Asia. Its apparent path of introduction was through the Middle East to North Africa and Europe during the Crusades, via Spanish explorers to the West Indies (at some point including the Florida Keys) contemporaneously with Columbus, then tropical and sub-tropical North America including Mexico, Florida, and later California ^[3]. The English name "lime" was derived from the Persian name لیمو Limu in this course. "Key" would seem to have been added some time after the Persian lime cultivar gained prominence commercially in the United States following the hurricane of 1926 that destroyed the bulk of U.S. C. aurantiifolia agriculture, leaving it to grow mostly casually in the Keys ^[4] ^[5]. Since the North American Free Trade Agreement came into effect, many key limes are grown in Mexico and Central America. They are also grown in Texas and California.