Statue of Unity – Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Rain Forest Ektanagar

Limonia acidissima

Syn. Feronia limonia

IUCN Red List Least Concern (LC)

Local name

  • Wood Apple (English)
  • Kaith (Hindi)
  • Kotha (Hindi)

Tree type

Evergreen Deciduous
Family: Rutaceae
10m

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Limonia acidissima bark

Bark

Trunk dark grey to black, deeply cracked; younger branches rigid, armed with straight axillary spines up to about 2–2.5 cm.

Limonia acidissima leaves

Leaves

Alternate, imparipinnate with 3–9 obovate leaflets, dotted with oil glands and giving a slight lemon scent when crushed.

Limonia acidissima flower

Flower

Small (about 1 cm), dull reddish to greenish, in loose axillary clusters; bisexual with 10–12 stamens.

Limonia acidissima fruit / seeds

Fruit / Seeds

Round to slightly oblong, 5–9 cm across, with a hard woody shell and aromatic brownish pulp containing many compressed seeds embedded in the pulp.

Limonia acidissima

Did you know?

Its fruit has a very hard, woody shell; cracking it open reveals aromatic, brownish pulp used in drinks and traditional food preparations.

Distribution

World map showing distribution

Indian Subcontinent to Andaman Islands, Cambodia, Fiji, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam