Brown River finger lime facts for kids

The Brown River finger lime, officially known as Citrus wintersii, is a special type of shrub. It grows naturally in the Brown River area of Papua New Guinea. This plant was once called Microcitrus papuana. As its name suggests, it produces a small, thin fruit that looks a bit like a finger. The fruit is pointed at both ends. You can find this plant growing near the city of Port Moresby.

What is the Brown River Finger Lime?

The Brown River finger lime is a unique plant in the citrus family. It's a shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree. It's known for its unusual fruit shape.

How Big Does It Get?

In the wild, the Brown River finger lime usually grows to be about 150 centimeters (5 feet) tall. That's about the height of an average 12-year-old! However, when people grow these plants from seeds in places like California, they can get much taller. Some have reached over 300 centimeters (10 feet) in height.

What Does It Look Like?

The leaves of this plant are long and narrow, shaped a bit like a spear. They can be up to 30 millimeters (about 1.2 inches) long. The fruit itself is always green. It never turns yellow, even when it's ripe. This is different from many other citrus fruits you might know, like lemons or oranges.

Where Does It Grow?

The Brown River finger lime is native to a specific part of the world: Papua New Guinea. This country is located in Oceania, north of Australia. The plant thrives in the Brown River region, which is close to the capital city, Port Moresby. This tells us it prefers a warm, tropical climate.

Why is it Special?

This finger lime is part of a group of plants sometimes called "bushfoods." These are native plants that have been traditionally used as food by local people. Its unique finger-like shape and green color make it stand out from other citrus fruits. Scientists are interested in it because it's a wild relative of common citrus fruits, which can help us understand more about how citrus plants grow and evolve.