Hystrix
Botanical name: Citrus hystrix
Common name: Kaffir lime or Hystrix
General features: The kaffir lime is a citrus fruit with irregular, vigorous foliage and an upright habit. It is distinguished from all other citrus fruits by its long, hourglass-shaped, deep green leaves. The flowers, gathered in clusters, are small and fragrant, white mottled with purple when in bud. The globular fruit is bright green when ripe and has a wrinkled, very fragrant skin.
Curiosity: The fruit is commonly used in the preparation of typical Thai dishes. In particular, many dishes are flavoured with its aromatic juice and fragrant chopped leaves.
Ornamental virtues: the kaffir lime has a truly unique appearance! What has always attracted the attention of ornamentalists, apart from the intense fragrance emanating from the flowers, leaves and fruit, is the 'rippled' skin of the fruit itself, which enhances its exotic appearance.