Persian lime
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Rutaceae
Genus:	Citrus
Species:	C. latifolia
Binomial name
Citrus latifolia (Yu. Tanaka) Tanaka

Persian Lime (Citrus x latifolia), also known as Tahiti lime or Bearss lime (named after John T. Bearss, who developed this seedless variety around 1895 in his nursery at Porterville, California), is a citrus fruit sold simply as a "lime" in the United States. The fruit is about 6 cm in diameter, often with slightly nippled ends, and is usually sold quite green, although it yellows as it reaches full ripeness. It is larger, thicker-skinned, and less aromatic than the key lime (Citrus aurantiifolia), which has a wider agricultural distribution worldwide. The advantages of the Persian lime in commercial agriculture compared to the Key lime are the larger size, absence of seeds, hardiness, absence of thorns on the bushes, and longer fruit shelf life. They are less acidic than key limes and don't have the bitterness that lends to the key lime's unique flavor. Persian limes are commercialized primarily in six sizes, known as 110's, 150's, 175's, 200's, 230's and 250's. Once grown primarily in Florida in the U.S.it rose to prominence after Key lime orchards were wiped out there by a hurricane in 1926, though Persian lime orchards themselves were devastated by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Large numbers of Persian limes are grown, processed, and exported every year primarily from Mexico^[1] to the American, European and Asian markets. U.S. Persian lime imports from Mexico are handled mostly through McAllen, Texas^[2].^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Tree characteristics

Seed type: Angiosperm

Leaf shape: Ovate shaped with whole margins

Leaf position: Alternate

Type of fruit: Hesperidium

[edit] External links

• Tahiti lime botany, agriculture, and history
• history and use of limes
• history and varieties of limes

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook /FTS-333/ July 30, 2008, page 16, by Agnes Perez and Susan Pollack, Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/FTS/2008/07JUL/FTS333.pdf
2. ^ Mexican lemons, limes attract U.S. importers, 6/9/2008, by Don Schrack at http://www.bovinevetonline.com/newsCN.asp?contentid=326811 accessed October 26, 2009.