7+ Types of Lime Trees with Uses Pictures & Identification

This article is going to be very useful as you can know about various Types of Lime Trees with Uses Pictures & Identification. Citrus trees produce limes, which have a variety of uses. Citrus plants first appeared in tropical Southeast Asia and South Asia.

Limes have higher levels of sugar and acidity than lemons. Limes are hybrid fruits that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Lime fruits taste similar to lemons in that they are both acidic, with a slight difference in flavor and scent. Limes are typically less sweet and slightly bitter than lemons, but this is subject to personal preference. Different lime varieties are being used in various cuisines around the world.

Let’s look at the types of lime trees as all of these indicate various different features. 

7+ types of lime trees that you shouldn’t miss 

Check out the various types of lime trees and their use and how you can identify the type all by yourself. Enjoy the beautiful pictures too! 

1. Key limes 

• Scientific name: Citrus aurantifolia 
• Uses: making pudding that has rustic flavor, garnishing dishes and drinks, baking, making some citrus flavored cakes, tasting the chicken, and fish. 
• Common name: Mexican lime, West Indian lime 
• Family: Rutaceae
• Height: 12-15 feet
• Via leaves: they look a lot like the leaves of orange trees. The leaves are oval to round, 25-90 mm in length, with lush green color. 
• Via flowers: the flowers are whitish in color, and are about an inch in diameter. The flowers bloom in the springtime. The flowers show a purple shade on the edges as well. 
• Via fruits: the fruits are 1 to 2 inches in diameter. The fruits are grown in the Florida keys and have a sweet-sour flavor. The fruits have seeds even more than the Persian lime. 
• Via appearance of trees: the trees are bushy and small. The tree looks evergreen, with a dark trunk that has no such patterns. 
• Hybrid: a tri-hybrid cross between Citrus micrantha, Citrus medical, and Citrus grandis.    
• Fruit diameter: 25-50 mm
• The key limes are seen thriving well in the tropical and subtropical regions. The limes contain many seeds and are small in size. The key limes should get at least 5-6 hours of sunlight. These plants cannot tolerate the cold temperatures but getting little shade in a day is healthy for them. 
• Benefits: Treat heart diseases, good for immunity, iron absorption, and treat kidney stones. 

2. Kaffir limes

• Scientific name: Citrus hystrix
• Uses: used in many Thai dishes, Vietnamese dishes, and Cambodian cuisines, steamed dishes, chicken dishes, making drinks, etc.
• Common name: Thai lime, makrut lime
• Family: Rutaceae
• The leaves are glossy and dark green in color. The surface is yellowish and dull looking on below the surface. 
• Via flowers 
• The white flowers with the blush on the edges. The flowers are in groups attached to the stem.
• Via fruits 
• The fruits are popular for their rough and crumpy skin. The kaffir limes are round and small and green-colored. 
• Via the appearance of trees 
• Trees are small and have branches that are bent down. The branches have thorns and the trees look evergreen.
• Hybrid: lemon and bitter orange
• Fruit diameter: 4 cm(2 inches)
• The kaffir lime needs moist and well-drained soil. The plants need good full sunlight, so they grow well in warm areas. Direct sunlight will also do the best for the growth of kaffir limes. 
• Benefits: good for mouth disease, improve skin health, and clean the blood.

3. Tahiti limes

• Scientific name: Citrus latifolia 
• Uses: in making alcoholic to delicious beverages, flavoring the dishes. 
• Family: Rutaceae
• Common name: Persian lime
• The eaves are broad and oval-shaped. The color of the leaves is dark green. 
• Via flowers
• The flowers appear in clusters and have a strong candy-like aroma. The flowers are dense. The flowers appear white and have green-colored bottom parts. 
• Via fruits
• The fruits are oval-shaped and are without seeds. The fruits have an acidic flavor. The fruits have a green color that darkens with age.
• Via appearance of trees 
• The trees are tall and evergreen. The branches are round and have thorns all over. 
• Hybrid: Mexican lime and local lemon
• Fruit diameter: 4-6 cms
• Benefits: the Tahiti limes help in improving the immunity of the body, and reduce the level of radicals in the body. 

4. Calamansi lime 

• Scientific name: Citrus microcarpa 
• Common name: Calamondin lime, Philippine lemon
• Fruit diameter: 25-35mm
• Family: Rutaceae
• The leaves have fragrance and the shape is more elliptical, having a length of 2-3 cm. 
• Via flowers
• The flowers are attractive and have a really nice aroma that is addictive and pleasant. The flowers are whitish-pink in color.
• Via fruits
• The fruits are really juicy and plumpy. The fruits are orange on the inside and are attractive too, like oranges. 
• Via appearance of trees 
• The plants are evergreen and small in size. The plant looks beautiful bearing the Calamansi limes that are orangish in color giving an aesthetic look. 
• Hybrid: kumquats and mandarin oranges 
• Benefits: help in weight loss, reducing acidity, boosting immunity, and other disorders. 

5. Rangpur lime

• Scientific name: Citrus limonia 
• Uses: they are used in making sparkling water, and other drinks. The rangpur limes are used in garnishing various Asian dishes too
• Family: Rutaceae 
• Common name: Kona lime, common lemon, Kona lime 
• The round leaves with purple edges
• Via flowers 
• Small whitish-colored flowers, with purple petals, are also seen.
• Via fruits
• The fruits are juicy and acidic, small to medium-sized. 
• Via the appearance of  trees 
• The plant gets to a height of 16-20 feet. The trees are not that tall and not that short and are evergreen. 
• Hybrid: mandarin lime and citron
• Benefits: contains many vital nutrients and vitamin c

6. Finger limes 

• Scientific name: Microcitrus Australasia 
• Uses: enhancing the flavor of dishes, making them more enjoyable,  used in cookies, cakes, drinks, cocktails, etc. 
• Common name: Caviar lime 
• The flowers are about 10-14mm in diameter and have a pale pink color. The flowers appear in the fall season and fall after fruiting. 
• The leaves have thorns at each axle, they are evergreen and small in size. 
• Via fruits: 
• Fruits look a lot like lean cucumbers and have a surprising and unique appearance on the inside. The fruit is filled with juicy beads.
• Hybrid: Trihybrid of citrus, Fortunella, and micro citrus 
• Benefits: the fruits help in collagen production in the body, and improve the skin and skin-related diseases. 

7. Desert lime 

• Scientific name: Citrus glauca 
• Uses: desert limes are used in making cakes, cookies, pickles, marinades, etc. 
• Common name: bush lime 
• The leaves are dense and thick. Their color is grey to dark green, giving a leathery appearance. The leaves are oblong and have thorns at each axle. 
• The flowers are small-sized and whitish in appearance. 
• Fruits appear quite quickly after flowering and are known to have a piquant flavor. 
• Via the appearance of tees
• The trees are small in size and native to South Wales and southern parts of Australia. 
• Fruit size: 2 cm
• Benefits: the desert limes are full of nutrients and are great options to add to the dishes as a healthy habit. 

8. Blood limes

• Scientific name: Citrus australasica var. sanguinea
• Uses: blood limes are greatly used in making sauces, garnishing dishes, and making beverages.  
• The fruits look really amazing and surprising with the bright red pulp inside and the red-colored skin as well. The fruits have a sweet to savory flavor. 
• The leaves are glossy and ovate-shaped, 23-35mm in length. 
• The flowers appear in clusters as well as alone on the branches near the axil of leaves. The flowers are fragrant and white colored. 
• Via the appearance of trees
• The tees are often grown as ornamental trees and they are evergreen and medium-sized. 
• Hybrid: red finger lime and Ellendale mandarin
• Benefits: the blood lime helps reduce heart disorders, increases immunity, and heals the skin. 

Footnote of the context

We hope you like the types we have shown you and give hints on how to identify them easily. We all just wish you find this article useful and we are always happy to help you guys.