Triphasia trifolia
| Triphasia trifolia | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 10 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 10' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Triphasia trifolia (common name: lime berry)
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.
Cultivation: Prefers a moderately heavy loam with a generous amount of compost and sand added and a very sunny position[1]. Prefers a pH between 5 and 6[1]. Intolerant of water logging[1], strongly disliking winter wet[2].
Most reports say that this species is not hardy in Britain, requiring greenhouse protection[2][1], but one report says that a plant outdoors at Boslewick in Cornwall produces fruit[3].
Plants are sometimes cultivated for their edible fruit[4].
All parts of the plant are aromatic. The white flowers have a scent of orange blossom[5]. The leaves are covered in pellucid dots and release a resinous scent when bruised[5]. The fruits are lemon-scented[5].
Range: E. Asia - China.
Habitat: Arid ground[5].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[6][7][8][4]. Red and fleshy[2], the fully ripe fruit has an agreeable sweet taste[2][6]. Aromatic, juicy and somewhat mucilaginous, the fruit can also be pickled or made into jams etc[4]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[1].
Medicinal: The leaves are applied to the body in the treatment of diarrhoea, colic and skin diseases[9].
Usage: The leaves are used as an aromatic bath[10]. The leaves are used as cosmetics[9].
A gum runs from the stem[9], though the report does not mention any uses for this gum.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: T. aurantiola. Lour. Limonia trifolia.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Thurston, Edgar. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall. Cambridge University Press, 1930.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.