Citrus limetta Pursha - Sweet Lemon

The Sweet Lemon 'Pursha', also known as Lime or Sweet Lime from Rome, is a surprising citrus variety! Its small round yellow lemon-shaped fruits are completely devoid of acidity. The delicious and juicy sweet-sour pulp can be eaten raw, candied, in tagines or used to flavour stews. Its beautiful and abundant fragrant flowering extends from spring to autumn. Sensitive to cold temperatures below - 4°C (39.2 °F), it is only suitable for cultivation in mild climates; elsewhere, it is preferably grown in a large container, overwintered in a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory.

The sweet lemon tree is a moderately vigorous citrus tree, forming a small tree with a rounded spreading habit, both ornamental and useful. It produces, from a young age, white flowers tinged with purple that give rise to round and yellow fruits when ripe. Rich in vitamins, the lemon is considered a panacea by some eminent naturopaths. Lemon trees and their varieties are extensively grown in open ground throughout the Mediterranean region. They also perform very well in pots, to be stored indoors during the winter.

Citrus limetta is a small tree of the Rutaceae family, like all citrus trees. It can reach 3 to 4 m (9 ft 10 in to 13 ft 1 in) in height when grown in open ground, but will remain smaller when grown in a pot. The young branches are tinged with purple, then become more grey with age. It has entire, rounded leaves, 5 to 10 cm (2 to 3.9 in) long and 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 in) wide, dark green in colour. Flowering mainly occurs in spring, but can extend into autumn. The purple flower buds open into small white star-shaped flowers tinged with purple. The flowering is followed by the formation of very round oval fruits. The thick green skin of the fruits becomes pale yellow at maturity. It is very rich in essential oils. The yellow-green pulp is very sweet and juicy, rich in citric acid, minerals, and vitamins C, A, and B.

Cultivated for its ornamental qualities as well as its lemons, the Lime tree is part of culinary traditions in regions all over the world. It is widely used in savoury or sweet dishes. Like Citrus limon, Citrus limetta can be used in many ways and its juice can be used in refreshing drinks or cocktails, as well as a condiment in sauces and carpaccios. The zest can be used to flavour pastries and desserts. The lemon tree is also a medicinal plant, whose therapeutic properties, used for centuries in traditional medicine, are now scientifically proven. The zest of the lemon, which is very rich in essential oil, is widely used in aromatherapy and perfumery. Easy to store, this citrus fruit was once carried on ships, providing a good source of vitamins to combat scurvy. Lemon wood is used in cabinet making.

Like all Citrus, the Citrus limetta 'Pursha' contains visible pockets of essential oil in its leaves, flowers, and fruits, from which essential oil with dermatological and cosmetic, tonic, and disinfectant properties is extracted by distillation (flowers and leaves) or by pressing (zest). The fragrance of the essential oil is described as fresh, pleasant, sweet, and lemony.
Most citrus trees thrive in open ground in coastal Mediterranean regions, where they find the necessary warmth all year round. Elsewhere, they are grown in pots and stored indoors at the first sign of cold weather. Not very hardy, the Limetta Lime tree begins to suffer from cold temperatures as low as 0°C (32 °F) and perishes below -7°C (19.4 °F).

Flowering and pollination: The Lime tree is a self-fertile bush, which means that a single individual is sufficient for complete pollination and fruiting. However, if your citrus tree remains indoors permanently, you will need to occasionally let the pollinators do their work or, if you feel delicate enough, perform hand pollination with a brush.