Common Name: Lime Berry

General Information

Triphasia trifolia is an evergreen shrub or small tree, spreading by suckers to form thickets. It usually grows around 1 - 3 metres tall, occasionally reaching 7 metres[]. The plant is armed with sharp spines[].
The plant has several local uses, providing food, medicines and various materials. It is widely cultivated in tropical areas especially as an ornamental and hedge plant, but also for its edible fruit[, ].
Triphasia trifolia sends up suckers and has a tendency to spread[]. It has escaped from cultivation and become naturalised in many Pacific islands, where it can form almost impenetrable dense stands in the understorey[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nicobar & Andaman Islands, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea to the Pacific

Habitat

Arid ground[]. Thickets at low elevations[]. Thickets along exposed cliffs in Guam[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Lime berry is cultivated in the tropics and subtropics[]. A fairly hardy plant, it is able to survive light, short-lived frost, but should be protected from longer frosts or hard freezes[].
Succeeds in full sun to part shade[]. Prefers a moderately heavy loam with a generous amount of compost and sand added[]. Prefers a dry, rocky soil in a sunny to partially shaded position[]. Succeeds in calcareous soils[]. Prefers a pH between 5 and 6[]. Intolerant of water logging[], strongly disliking winter wet[].
A slow-growing plant[].
The plant can flower and produce fruit throughout much of the year[].
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[, ]. Agreeable if eaten in small quantities, but it is mucilaginous and astringent, and one soon tires of it[]. Aromatic, juicy and somewhat mucilaginous, the fruit can also be pickled or made into jams, marmalades 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[, ]. The freshly crushed leaves are applied to the scalp to remedy dandruff[].

The fruit is cooked with sugar in water as a remedy for bad coughs and to loosen phlegm[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant has thorny stems and is sometimes grown as a hedge[]. A popular hedge in the tropics[]. An excellent, impenetrable hedge, but should be sited where it is relatively easy to deal with any unwanted suckers[, ].

Other Uses

The plant is used as a rootstock for various Citrus spp.[].

The red fruit is used as a colouring for finger nails[].

The leaves are used as an aromatic bath[]. The leaves are used as cosmetics[, ]. The leaves are used in making aromatic bath salts[].

A good glue can be obtained from the young fruits[].

A gum runs from the stem[], though the report does not mention any uses for this gum[].

The wood is extremely hard and is often used for making coconut husking stakes in Guam[].
An excellent fuel[], it also makes a good charcoal[].

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.