Glycosmis trifoliata
PINK-FRUITED LIME BERRY
Native to tropical Australia, I was given seeds of this distant citrus relative on a trip to Australia in late 2016. The seeds germinated readily, at first producing only single leaves but eventually the trifoliate arrangement. By summer 2020 the potted plants were about 4ft (1m20) tall and producing the characteristic translucent pink fruits.
The tiny white flowers have a somewhat sickly scent, not as delightful as that of true citrus but clearly attractive to insects. Some flowers - probably unpollinated - form tiny green fruits maturing to pink. These seedless pink fruits are only about 1mm across. Others - presumably self-pollinated - turn into spherical fruits about 1cm in diameter with a single seed. A few fruits have a more oblate shape and contain two seeds.
The small amount of juicy pink flesh has a pleasant sweet taste, but the thin skin leaves a somewhat resinous or peppery aftertaste. Fruit size 12 mm across.
Mature trifoliate leaves are about 12cms long.
New growth appears covered with a brown furry coating.
Flowers appear in large clusters at the same time as some fruits are developing and others are already ripe.
Before turning pink the fruits resemble tiny oranges.
Before turning pink the fruits resemble tiny oranges.
page created 25th August 2020