Atalantia monophylla, wild lime or kattu elumichai, is a spiny citrus-family shrub of dry scrub and coastal forests in peninsular India and Sri Lanka. It has single, glossy, oil-dotted leaves and small, round, sour fruits that smell of citrus. It is a wild relative of cultivated citrus, valued by plant breeders and by the butterflies that feed on it.
- Botanical name
- Atalantia monophylla (L.) DC.
- Family
- Rutaceae
- Tamil
- Kattu elumichai
- Hindi
- Ban nimbu
- Parts used
- Fruit (sour, household)
- Habit
- Single-leaflet wild citrus; lime is a shop word
- Last updated
- 2026-10-26
How to recognise Wild lime
It is a stiff shrub or small tree with straight spines in the leaf axils.
The leaves are simple, oval, glossy and leathery, dotted with translucent oil glands that release a citrus scent when crushed.
Small white, fragrant flowers grow in short clusters.
The fruit is a small, round, greenish-yellow berry with a thick, oily rind and sour pulp.
The wood is hard and fine-grained, and older plants become small, gnarled trees.
Traditional use of Wild lime
Household
The sour fruit is used in some villages like a lime, and the oil from the fruit has been used in folk practice.
South Indian village practice
Craft
The hard, pale wood has been used for small carvings and tool handles.
South Indian village practice
Modern notes on Wild lime
Citrus breeders study wild relatives like Atalantia for disease resistance and drought tolerance.
Phytochemical studies report limonoids and alkaloids, typical of the citrus family.
Wild lime safety
Use the fruit only as a household sour. Beware of the spines.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows in dry evergreen and scrub forests of peninsular India and Sri Lanka, including the Coromandel coast.
Caterpillars of citrus swallowtail butterflies, such as the lime butterfly and common Mormon, feed on its leaves.
Its spiny habit makes it a good native hedge plant.
Related plants
Also in Rutaceae
Questions about Wild lime
Is Wild lime a true lime?
No. It is a wild relative in the same family.
Can you eat the fruit of Wild lime?
It is very sour and used only as a household sour.
Why is Wild lime useful to butterflies?
Citrus swallowtail caterpillars feed on it.
Where does Wild lime grow?
In dry scrub and coastal forests of peninsular India and Sri Lanka.
Sources
- Atalantia monophylla (L.) DC. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q15387525 (Atalantia monophylla)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.