Blood lime facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blood lime |
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Blood limes
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| Hybrid parentage | Citrus australasica var. sanguinea x 'Ellendale Mandarin' hybrid |
| Origin | Australia |
Blood limes are a special kind of citrus fruit. They are a hybrid fruit, meaning they were created by crossing two different plants. Scientists at the CSIRO in Australia developed them. Their goal was to find crops that could grow well in salty conditions.
These limes were good at growing in salty soil. The first blood limes were sold in Australian markets in July 2004. People are now thinking about selling them to other countries too.
What Are Blood Limes?
Blood limes are a unique type of citrus fruit. They are a hybrid, which means they come from two different parent plants. The CSIRO developed them as part of a project. This project looked for plants that could grow even in salty soil.
Even though they were good for salty conditions, they are not widely grown yet. However, the first blood limes appeared in stores in Australia in 2004. Now, people are even thinking about selling them to other countries.
What Do Blood Limes Look Like?
Blood limes are smaller than most other limes. They are usually about 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) long. They are also about 2 centimeters (less than an inch) wide. In winter, they often look like a small egg.
The inside of a blood lime is very colorful. It has tiny red-orange parts called vesicles. These vesicles are like little juice sacs. The skin of the blood lime is also special. You can eat it along with the fruit! The skin is usually red or a deep burgundy color. Sometimes, it can be green, just like a regular lime.
How Were Blood Limes Created?
A blood lime is a mix of two different citrus plants. It is a cross between the red finger lime and the 'Ellendale Mandarin'. The red finger lime is a type of Citrus australasica. The 'Ellendale Mandarin' is a sweet fruit. It is a mix of a sweet orange and a mandarin.
The trees that grow blood limes are medium-sized. They also have thorns. Because they are so pretty, these trees can also be used as ornamental plants. This means people can grow them just for their looks.
