Micromelum minutum
StarMicromelum minutum
Synonyms: Limonia minuta, Micromelum scandens
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Across Southeast Asia, Malesia, Fiji and northern Australia, lime berry (Micromelum minutum) is used in folk medicine: leaves and roots are applied externally for skin diseases and ringworm, the roots are taken for malaria and fever, and roots, bark, shoots and leaves are used for toothache, headache, coughs and gastrointestinal complaints (MedCrave ethnobotanical review).
Botanical Description
Micromelum minutum, the lime berry, is a shrub or small tree of the citrus family (Rutaceae) widely distributed through tropical and subtropical Asia, Malesia, the Philippines, northern Australia and the Pacific. It usually grows two to seven metres tall, with finely hairy young shoots and alternate, pinnately compound leaves bearing several asymmetrical, oblong to lance-shaped leaflets dotted with aromatic oil glands that release a citrus scent when bruised. Small, fragrant, creamy-white five-petalled flowers are borne in branched terminal or axillary clusters and are followed by small ellipsoid berries that ripen from green through orange to red, each containing one or two seeds. A pioneer of rainforest margins, secondary growth, monsoon forest and thickets, it is fast-growing and frequently colonises disturbed ground. Its foliage is rich in coumarins, flavonoids and alkaloids characteristic of the family.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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