Introduction
Australia has six species of native citrus, with the
most well known and cultivated species being
the finger lime. The Australian finger lime (Citrus
australasica) is native to the rainforests of the border
ranges of SE Queensland and Northern NSW.
In its natural habitat the finger lime grows as an
understorey shrub or tree up to 6 metres in height on
a range of soil types.
Trees are thorny, producing distinctive finger shaped
fruit up to 12 cm long with a typically green-yellow
skin and pulp. There is also a naturally occurring
pink-red fleshed form of finger lime known as Citrus
australasica var. sanguinea. In the wild, finger limes
are genetically very diverse, with trees and fruit
varying in size, shape, colour and seediness. The
pulp of the fruit is unique with separate juice vesicles
that resemble caviar. The individual juice vesicles
(sometimes referred to as crystals) are compressed
inside the fruit and burst out when the fruit is opened.
Demand for finger limes has grown steadily over the
past decade, mainly as a result of its bush food status,
unique caviar-like pulp and attractive colour range, with
most interest coming from the restaurant trade.
Fresh fruit are mainly used as a garnish for seafood
and the pulp is used for processing into sauces, jams
and jellies.
Industry & Investment NSW has not yet undertaken
any research trials on growing finger limes. Most of
the information in this Primefact has been obtained
from commercial growers on the north coast of NSW.
Climatic requirements
At present most commercial plantings of finger
limes are confined to northern NSW and southern
Queensland, with a few plantings dotted along the
coast as far south as Sydney. Trees can probably
tolerate a wide range of climatic conditions including
light frosts, but ideally sites should be frost free and
trees protected from prevailing hot or cold winds.
IntroductionAustralia has six species of native citrus, with themost well known and cultivated species beingthe finger lime. The Australian finger lime (Citrusaustralasica) is native to the rainforests of the borderranges of SE Queensland and Northern NSW.In its natural habitat the finger lime grows as anunderstorey shrub or tree up to 6 metres in height ona range of soil types.Trees are thorny, producing distinctive finger shapedfruit up to 12 cm long with a typically green-yellowskin and pulp. There is also a naturally occurringpink-red fleshed form of finger lime known as Citrusaustralasica var. sanguinea. In the wild, finger limesare genetically very diverse, with trees and fruitvarying in size, shape, colour and seediness. Thepulp of the fruit is unique with separate juice vesiclesthat resemble caviar. The individual juice vesicles(sometimes referred to as crystals) are compressedinside the fruit and burst out when the fruit is opened.Demand for finger limes has grown steadily over thepast decade, mainly as a result of its bush food status,unique caviar-like pulp and attractive colour range, withmost interest coming from the restaurant trade.Fresh fruit are mainly used as a garnish for seafoodand the pulp is used for processing into sauces, jamsand jellies.Industry & Investment NSW has not yet undertakenany research trials on growing finger limes. Most ofthe information in this Primefact has been obtainedfrom commercial growers on the north coast of NSW.Climatic requirementsAt present most commercial plantings of fingerlimes are confined to northern NSW and southernQueensland, with a few plantings dotted along thecoast as far south as Sydney. Trees can probablytolerate a wide range of climatic conditions includinglight frosts, but ideally sites should be frost free andtrees protected from prevailing hot or cold winds.
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