Citrus inodora (Russell River Lime)

Citrus inodora

The Russell River Lime (Citrus inodora) is found in far North Queensland in, wait for it, the Russell River area, including Mt. Bellenden Kerr, the second highest mountain in Queensland.

It grows in lowland tropical rainforest. Much of its native habitat has now been cleared for agricultural use, so the species is becoming rare. It is however easy to keep in cultivation. The fruit is egg-shaped and yellowish-green. There has to date been no commercial use of the fruits, but this could change soon as it is a useful species when breeding new varieties.

Citrus inodora is a shrub up to 4 m tall. Leaves and flowers are essentially odourless, lacking the aromatic oils characteristic of the genus, hence the specific name, inodora.