Desert Lime
Encyclopedia
Citrus glauca is also known as Desert Lime. It is a thorny shrub or small tree
endemic to semi-arid regions of Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia
The desert lime fruit is a highly prized bushfood
used in a range of products, including marmalades, beverages, and glaced fruit. It has a strong lime-like flavour.
It is wild harvested from surviving bushland areas where it is relatively common. However, C. glauca has also been extensively cleared from some areas due to agricultural practices. Commercial cultivation is beginning to reduce the reliance on wild harvested product.
Research indicates that C. glauca is one of the most resilient Citrus species, being comparatively heat, drought
, and cold tolerant. Hence the species is potentially important for Citrus breeding
programmes, and readily hybridises with many common Citrus species.
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
endemic to semi-arid regions of Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia
The desert lime fruit is a highly prized bushfood
Bushfood
Bushfood traditionally relates to any food native to Australia and used as sustenance by the original inhabitants, the Australian Aborigines, but it is a reference to any native fauna/flora that is used for culinary and/or medicinal purposes regardless of which continent or culture it originates...
used in a range of products, including marmalades, beverages, and glaced fruit. It has a strong lime-like flavour.
It is wild harvested from surviving bushland areas where it is relatively common. However, C. glauca has also been extensively cleared from some areas due to agricultural practices. Commercial cultivation is beginning to reduce the reliance on wild harvested product.
Research indicates that C. glauca is one of the most resilient Citrus species, being comparatively heat, drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
, and cold tolerant. Hence the species is potentially important for Citrus breeding
Selective breeding
Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits. Typically, strains that are selectively bred are domesticated, and the breeding is sometimes done by a professional breeder. Bred animals are known as breeds, while bred plants are known as varieties,...
programmes, and readily hybridises with many common Citrus species.