Some authorities consider C. macroptera to be a taxonomic synonymofC. hystrix (kaffir lime),[4] while others consider C. macroptera var. annamensis to be a synonym of C. hystrix, but not C. macroptera var. macroptera.[5]
Citrus macroptera is so-named because of the large "wings" (-ptera) on the petiole, which is as large as the blade of the leaf.[3]
The tree, which has thorns, can reach 5 m (16 ft) in height. Its fruit is about 6–7 cm (2+1⁄2–3 in) in diameter, has a fairly smooth, moderately thick rind, and is yellow when ripe. The pulp of the fruit is greenish-yellow and dry (does not produce much juice). The juice is very bitter, and somewhat sour.[3]
Citrus macroptera is cultivated on a small scale in home gardens in the northeast Indian states of Mizoram, Tripura, and Meghalaya, where its fruit is used for various purposes.[6] A cultivar of C. macroptera var. annamensis is grown in the Sylhet Division of northeastern Bangladesh.[7]
Citrus macroptera is also commercially cultivated in South Africa, Spain, and Tonga. In Spain the plant serves as a rootstock for other Citrus species.[2]
In Bangladesh, especially Sylhet, the thick fleshy rind of Citrus macroptera is eaten as a vegetable, while the pulp is usually discarded because of its bitter-sour taste. The thick rind is cut into small pieces and cooked (either green or ripe) in beef, mutton, and fish curries, it is also used in Dal. The rind is often sun-dried for later cooking and consumption. The fruit is also pickled.
^ abPeter Hanelt (ed.) 2001 Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops (except ornamentals), first English edition. Springer. in Google Books
^ abcHarley I. Manner, Richard S. Buker, Virginia Easton Smith, Deborah Ward, and Craig R. Elevitch 2006. Species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry: Citrus (citrus) and Fortunella (kumquat), Rutaceae (Rue family). pdf
^ abPorcher Michel H. et al. 1995–2020 (2007). Sorting Citrus Names: Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (M.M.P.N.D) - A Work in Progress. School of Agriculture and Food Systems. Faculty of Land & Food Resources. The University of Melbourne. Australia. [1]
^S. K. Malik; Susheel Kumar; I. P. Singh; O. P. Dhariwal; Rekha Chaudhury (June 2013). "Socio-economic importance, domestication trends and in situ conservation of wild Citrus species of Northeast India". Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 60 (5): 1660. doi:10.1007/s10722-012-9948-x.
