86 



G. P. W. ColletHon. PLATE XLI 



Citrus mcdica limctta. 



LIMES. 



This small tree or bush thrives in Hawaii, and yields good 

 crops. It requires a sandy, rocky soil, and does well in the shaded 

 valleys. However, it is attacked by scale pests and root fungus, 

 and man_v valuable trees are destroyed in this way. The dark 

 green, shiny leaves are oval or elliptical, and emit an agreeable 

 odor when bruised. The fragrant flowers are small, white, with 

 an occasional tinge of pink. The fruit is small, varying in shape 

 from round to elliptical. The light yellow skin is oily and very 

 bitter, and the pulp is juicy and sour. The picture repre- 

 senting this fruit shows several varieties, forms and shapes ; 

 those on the left being the Mexican type, those on the upper right 

 the Kusai lime, the latter much resembling a mandarin orange in 

 shape, and has a loose skin, but the pulp is very juicy and ex- 

 ceedingly sour. This lime has become very popular in Hawaii, 

 grows readily from seed, and p-oduces true. To Mr. Henry 

 Swinton is due the credit of int'oducing this variet)' in 1885 

 from Kusai, or Strong's Island, Micronesia. 



