Citrus hystrix DC., Rutaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate; score: 1 (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment for Citrus hystrix)

Other Latin names:  Citrus auraria Michel; Citrus echinata St.-Lag.; Citrus latipes Hook. f.& Thomson; Citrus papeda Miq.; Citrus torosa Blanco; Fortunella sagittifolia K. M. Feng & P. I Mao; Papeda rumphii Hassk.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Mauritius papeda, kaffir lime, leach lime, rough lemon

Thai: ma kruut

Unknown: laim, lemani, te remen, tipolo patupatu

Habit:  shrub/tree

Description:  "Citrus hystrix. . .is a densely branched shrub or tree up to 20' tall with 1 spine per leaf axil, petiooles nearly as long as the leaf blade and broadly winged with scallped margins, free stamens (Notin bundles), and bumyp, acrid fruit about 2-3" in diameter, blutly pointed at one or both ends." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 506)

Habitat/ecology:  "Habitat: Not known in a truly wild situation [266]." (Useful Tropical Plants)

Culture (in cultivation): "Winter hardy to USDA Zones 10-12 where this citrus tree grows well in sandy, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Deep, fertile soils generally produce the best fruit crops. Best overall performance occurs in full sun in locations sheltered from strong winds. Provide consistent and regular watering. Avoid wet poorly drained soils. Trees will tolerate temperatures that occasionally drop to 32 degrees F., but will generally not survive temperatures much below that. Plants prefer warm tropical to sub-tropical climates with abundant rainfall. North of Zone 10, this plant is best grown in containers that should be placed in sunny windows year round or taken outside in late spring but returned indoors in early fall before temperatures regularly dip below 60 degrees F. Indoor plants should be regularly watered and foliage should be regularly misted (plants like humidity)." (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Propagation:  (PIER has no propagation info)

Native range:  Indonesia (Agroforestry Guides for Pacific Islands, p. 52)

"Of uncertain native origin but found widely in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. . . ." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 507)

"Habitat & Distribution: N Guangxi, Yunnan [Indonesia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand]." (Encyclopedia of Life)

Impacts and invaded habitats:  (no invaded habitats or impacts known by PIER; please let us know if you know of such information we should add here)

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Fiji Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
French Polynesia French Polynesia Islands	French Polynesia Islands		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Victoria (Australia)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
New Zealand New Zealand	South Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Comments:  "The most common 'lemon' in many Pacific Islands" (Agroforestry Guides for Pacific Islands, p. 52); used/recommended as a multipurpose agroforestry species in Pacific islands (Agroforestry Guides for Pacific Islands, p. 41)

"[Citrus hystrix] is highly susceptible to tristeza and should be grown from virus-resistant selections grafted or budded onto resistant rootstocks, rather than from seed or by cuttings." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 507)

"[Citrus hystrix] is primarily grown in Hawai'i by Southeast Asian immigrants. . ." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 507)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Citrus hystrix, please let us know.