Triphasia trifolia
Lime Berry
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Triphasia genus in the family Rutaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw or cooked[5][2][3][4]. Red and fleshy[1], the fully ripe fruit has an agreeable sweet taste[1][5]. Aromatic, juicy and somewhat mucilaginous, the fruit can also be pickled or made into jams etc[4]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[6].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves are applied to the body in the treatment of diarrhoea, colic and skin diseases[7].
- Product or use
- Skin
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves are used as an aromatic bath[10]. The leaves are used as cosmetics[7]. A gum runs from the stem[7], though the report does not mention any uses for this gum.
- Product or use
- Incense
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China.
- Habitat
- Arid ground[8].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 10+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a warm greenhouse as soon as it is ripe if this is possible. Otherwise sow the seed in early spring in a warm greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a moderately heavy loam with a generous amount of compost and sand added and a very sunny position[6]. Prefers a pH between 5 and 6[6]. Intolerant of water logging[6], strongly disliking winter wet[1]. Most reports say that this species is not hardy in Britain, requiring greenhouse protection[1][6], but one report says that a plant outdoors at Boslewick in Cornwall produces fruit[9]. Plants are sometimes cultivated for their edible fruit[4]. All parts of the plant are aromatic. The white flowers have a scent of orange blossom[8]. The leaves are covered in pellucid dots and release a resinous scent when bruised[8]. The fruits are lemon-scented[8].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202