Lime (fruit)
Limes, whole and in cross section
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| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 126 kJ (30 kcal) |
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10.5 g
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|
| Sugars | 1.7 g |
| Dietary fiber | 2.8 g |
|
0.2 g
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0.7 g
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|
| Vitamins | |
| Thiamine (B1) |
(3%)
0.03 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) |
(2%)
0.02 mg |
| Niacin (B3) |
(1%)
0.2 mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) |
(4%)
0.217 mg |
| Vitamin B6 |
(4%)
0.046 mg |
| Folate (B9) |
(2%)
8 μg |
| Vitamin C |
(35%)
29.1 mg |
| Minerals | |
| Calcium |
(3%)
33 mg |
| Iron |
(5%)
0.6 mg |
| Magnesium |
(2%)
6 mg |
| Phosphorus |
(3%)
18 mg |
| Potassium |
(2%)
102 mg |
| Sodium |
(0%)
2 mg |
| Other constituents | |
| Water | 88.3 g |
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| Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database |
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A lime (from French lime, from Arabic līma, from Persian līmū, "lemon") is a hybrid citrus fruit, which is typically round, lime green, 3–6 centimetres (1.2–2.4 in) in diameter, and containing acidic juice vesicles. There are several species of citrus trees whose fruits are called limes, including the Key lime (Citrus aurantifolia), Persian lime, kaffir lime, and desert lime. Limes are an excellent source of vitamin C, and are often used to accent the flavours of foods and beverages. They are grown year-round. Plants with fruit called "limes" have diverse genetic origins; limes do not form a monophyletic group.
The difficulty in identifying exactly which species of fruit are called lime in different parts of the English-speaking world (and the same problem applies to homonyms in other European languages) is increased by the botanical complexity of the citrus genus itself, to which the majority of limes belong. Species of this genus hybridise readily, and it is only recently that genetic studies have started to throw light on the structure of the genus. The majority of cultivated species are in reality hybrids, produced from the citron (Citrus medica), the mandarin (Citrus reticulata) and the pomelo (Citrus grandis).
Note that the tree species known in Britain as lime trees (Tilia sp.), called linden in other dialects of English, are broadleaf temperate plants unrelated to the citrus fruits.
Although the precise origin is uncertain, wild limes are believed to have first grown in Indonesia or Southeast Asia, and then were transported to the Mediterranean region and northern Africa around 1000 CE.
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Wikipedia