Shrub 4-6 m tall, smaller in cultivation, the tiny leaves and thorns reminiscent of Berberis. In the wild takes 5-15 years to fruit. Fruit finger-shaped, skin black, purple, dark green and yellow to deep red. Pulp green, yellow or pink and made up of caviarlike vesicles containing an acidic juice. [Microcitrus australasica (F. Muell.) Swingle]
Subtropical coastal Qld and NSW
C. australis (Mudie) Planchon, Australian Lime (Dooja), from S Qld is similar but has more or less globose fruits. [Microcitrus australis (Mudie) Swingle]
Source: (2002). Rutaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
Citrus australasica 'Rainforest Pearl'
Selected for pink pulp, ease of propagation and vigorous growth with good form.
Erika Birmingham, Byron Bay Native Produce, NSW, introduced 1999.
A cultivar given PBR - see Plant Varieties Journal PVJ 10(4): 64.
Plants are usually grafted and will fruit in 2-3 years from late summer into autumn.
C. 'Australian Blood' and C. 'Australian Sunrise' are also listed.