Persian lime
species of hybrid citrus tree that produces the Persian lime
Persian lime (Citrus × latifolia), also known by other common names such as seedless lime, Bearss lime, and Tahiti lime, is a citrus fruit species of hybrid origin, known only in cultivation. The Persian lime is a triploid cross between Key lime (Citrus × aurantiifolia) and lemon (Citrus × limon).
Although there are other citrus species that are referred to as "limes", the Persian lime is the most widely cultivated lime species commercially, and accounts for the largest share of the fruits sold as limes. The fruit turns yellow as it ripens, but it is universally sold while still green.
Description
The tree is a triploid cross between Key lime (Citrus x aurantiifolia) and lemon (Citrus x limon). It is nearly thornless. The fruit is about 6 centimetres (2+1⁄2 inches) in diameter, often with slightly nippled ends, and is usually sold while green, although it yellows as it reaches full ripeness. It is larger, thicker-skinned, with less intense citrus aromatics than the Key lime. The advantages of the Persian lime in commercial agriculture compared to the key lime are the larger size, absence of seeds, hardiness, absence of thorns on the bushes, and longer fruit shelf life. They are less acidic than Key limes and do not have the bitterness that lends to the key lime's unique flavor.
The public source identifies “Persian lime” as species of hybrid citrus tree that produces the Persian lime. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Persian, lime and species.
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The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 24, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1520920. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
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This entry incorporates text from “Persian lime” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.