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Common Name: Lime Berry

General Information

Triphasia trifolia is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 3.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China.

Habitat

Arid ground[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a moderately heavy loam with a generous amount of compost and sand added and a very sunny position[]. Prefers a pH between 5 and 6[]. Intolerant of water logging[], strongly disliking winter wet[].
Most reports say that this species is not hardy in Britain, requiring greenhouse protection[, ], but one report says that a plant outdoors at Boslewick in Cornwall produces fruit[].
Plants are sometimes cultivated for their edible fruit[].
All parts of the plant are aromatic. The white flowers have a scent of orange blossom[]. The leaves are covered in pellucid dots and release a resinous scent when bruised[]. The fruits are lemon-scented[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , , ]. Red and fleshy[], the fully ripe fruit has an agreeable sweet taste[, ]. Aromatic, juicy and somewhat mucilaginous, the fruit can also be pickled or made into jams etc[]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

The leaves are applied to the body in the treatment of diarrhoea, colic and skin diseases[].

Other Uses

The leaves are used as an aromatic bath[]. The leaves are used as cosmetics[].
A gum runs from the stem[], though the report does not mention any uses for this gum.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a warm greenhouse as soon as it is ripe if this is possible. Otherwise sow the seed in early spring in a warm greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors.