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Accession Data:

Triphasia trifolia (Burm.f.)P.Wilson.

  • Common Name: Limeberry
  • Family: Rutaceae Juss.

  • Country of Origin: Southeastern Asia, East Indian Archipelago

  • Description: A glabrous shrub or small tree with terete twigs bearing paired spines in the axils of the leaves; leaves 3-foliolate, the terminal leaflet ovate with a cuneate base and a rounded emarginate tip, 2-4 X 1.5-2 cm; lateral leaflets much smaller than the terminal one (1-2-2 X 0.8-1.2 cm), broadly rounded at the tip, cuneate at the base; petiolules very short (1.5-2 cm); petioles short (3-5 mm), wingless; flowers appearing singly or 2 or 3 in the axils of the leaves; peduncles short (3-4 X 1 mm); flower buds cylindrical, 10-12 X 3-4 mm; flowers 3-merous (but with 6 stamens); sepals small (1.5-2 mm long), 3-lobed, green, persistent; petals white, 10-13 X 3.6-4.5 mm; staminal filaments slender, glabrous, 9-11 mm long, anthers oblong, 2 X 1 mm; disk annular or short-cylindric; ovary ovoid or fusiform with 3 locules, each with 1 ovule, narrowed into a slender, deciduous style with a capitate, 3-lobed stigma; fruit ovoid or subglobose, sometimes apiculate, 1.2-1.5 cm long, dull reddish-orange or crimson when fleshy ripe; peel with many small oil glands; seeds 1-3, immersed in mucilaginous pulpy flesh.1
  • Uses: Plant produces a small 10-15mm berry like hesperidium that has an acidic, lime-flavored taste. Fruits are eaten directly, cooked to make a preserve or used in a beverage.

    • IMPORTANT NOTE: Plant Uses are for informational purposes only. EEB Greenhouses assume no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plants referred to on this site. Always seek advice from a professional before using any plant medicinally.
  • USDA Zone: 9b-11

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 200700167
  • Source: Chad Husby FIU
  • Accession Date: 09-18-2007
  • Bench: 1214 - AUS:West Bench SC
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 2 confirmed on 03-24-2025

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • SubClass: eurosid II
  • Order: Sapindales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Rutaceae
  • SubFamily: Aurantioideae
  • Tribe: Citreae
  • SubTribe: Triphasiinae

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015

References (internal):

  • Medicinal Plants
  • Bird Pollination (ornithophily)
  • Edible Plants
  • Plants with Edible Fruits
  • Beverage Plants

References (external):

  1. The Citrus Industry Vol. 1 (1967)
  2. A new bicoumarin from the leaves and stems of Triphasia trifolia. - Fitoterapia. 2006 Feb;77(2):129-33. Epub 2006 Jan 20.
  3. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 26 February 2015.

data regenerated on Mon, 24 Mar 2025 08:48:05 -0400 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

No default accession image assigned

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Rutaceae

Subfamily Aurantioideae
Tribe Aurantieae

  • Merrilliinae: Murraya koenigii
  • Merrilliinae: Murraya paniculata

Subfamily Aurantioideae
Tribe Citreae

  • Citrinae: Citropsis daweana
  • Citrinae: Citrus aurantiifolia
  • Citrinae: Citrus japonica Nagami
  • Citrinae: Citrus junos
  • Citrinae: Citrus x limon
  • Citrinae: Citrus medica
  • Citrinae: Citrus x pyriformis
  • Citrinae: Citrus reticulata
  • Citrinae: Citrus reticulata Clementine de Nules
  • Citrinae: Citrus trifoliata
  • Triphasiinae: Triphasia trifolia

Subfamily Rutoideae
Tribe Ruteae

  • Ruta graveolens

Subfamily Spathelioideae

  • Cneorum tricoccon
  • Ptaeroxylon obliquum

Subfamily Toddalioideae

  • Casimiroa edulis
  • Dictamnus albus var. purpureus
  • Zanthoxylum simulans
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
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