These species were formerly included in the genera Microcitrus and Eremocitrus.[1][2][3] They have been used as a food source by indigenous Australians and Indigenous New Guineans as well as early settlers and are used in modern Australian cuisine, including marmalade and sauces.[4][5]
Citrus gracilis (Kakadu lime or Humpty Doo lime) grows in eucalypt woodland in the Northern Territory[5][6] and was first described in the scientific literature in 1998.[7]
Citrus inodora (Russell River lime or large-leaf Australian wild lime) is rare, and endemic to northern Queensland.[5]
A number of cultivars have been developed in recent years. These can be grafted on to standard citrus rootstocks. They may be grown as ornamental trees in the garden or in containers.[8]
Grafted standards are available for some varieties.[1] The cultivars include:
'Australian Outback' (or 'Australian Desert'), developed from several desert lime varieties
'Australian Blood', 'Australian Red Centre' or Blood Lime, a cross of finger lime and an acid-mandarin.[9]
'Australian Sunrise', a hybrid cross of finger lime and a calomondin which is pear shaped and orange inside
Clymenia sp. are native to the Bismarck Archipelago but are cultivated in other areas. Clymenia is now often considered to belong within the citrus genus.[19]
Citrus species in Papua New Guinea have not been extensively studied, so the true number of species is unknown.
Identification
An identification key[20] exists for the known Australian limes (not including species from Papua New Guinea). The leaves of some species broaden dramatically with age.[21]
