Lime berry
Micromelum minutum, Fam. Rutaceae
Small tree to 7m but often much smaller, with grey smooth to slightly scaly bark.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Small tree |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Leaf: | Alternate, pinnate with seven to 11 leaflets, leaflets ovate, 2-8cm long, soft, thin, green above, paler and with short downy hairs below, asymmetrical base. Domatia occur as hair tufts in the axils of veins on lower surface. Oil dots numerous and conspicuous. Leaves are aromatic when crushed. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
White |
| Flower description: | Large terminal panicles of small white bisexual flowers, sweetly fragrant. Spring to summer. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Orange, Yellow |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Ovoid drupes, 6-7mm long, changes from yellow to bright orange. Spring to summer. |
| Habitat: | Littoral rainforest, rainforest, |
| Distribution | Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, New Guinea, Melanesia, Malesia, Asia, Pacific Islands. |
| Food source for: | Fruit eaten by the rose crowned and wompoo fruit doves. Larval food plant for the orchard swallowtail and fuscous swallowtail butterflies. |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Australia, New Guinea, Melanesia, Malesia, Asia, Pacific Islands. |
| Notes: | Grow from fresh seed or cuttings. The flowers are apparently a good source of nectar for bees. Timber pale and close grained. |
| Information sources: | Melzer R. & Plumb J. (2007) Plants of Capricornia. |
