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The Kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix) belongs to Rutaceae (the Citrus family). It is a small evergreen tree that is native to tropical Southeast Asia and southern China. This tree grows up to a height of 2-11 m. The leaves are hourglass-shaped, comprise the leaf blade plus a flattened, leaf-like winged petiole. The fruit is rough and green, bumpy, about 4 cm in diameter, and ripens to yellow. Its fruit and leaves are used in Southeast Asian cuisine and its essential oil is used in perfumery. It is called "箭葉橙" (jian ye cheng) in Chinese.
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