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Description: The kaffir lime, Citrus hystrix, is a thorny bush or small tree that grows up to 2-10 m (~6-35 ft) with numerous short spines. Its leaves are aromatic with a distinctive double form (hourglass-shaped) that includes the leaf blade and a flattened, leaf-like petiole. Indeed, C. hystrix is easily distinguished by its glossy, two-part, fragrant leaves with bumpy, green fruits that turn yellow as they mature. It is more or less the most common “lemon” in the Pacific region. The fruits are general small in size, about 4 cm (2 in) wide when mature.
Distribution: The kaffir lime, C. hystrix, reportedly originated somewhere in tropical Asia and was apparently a relatively early European human introduction into many Pacific islands, perhaps including some in Micronesia. According to Falanruw et al. (1987:7) the kaffir lime, C. hystrix, is one of many cultivated tree species “commonly found in the agroforest overstory” of Yap. Indeed, it reportedly is the most common “lemon” in several tropical Pacific Islands (e.g., see Elevitch and Wilkinson 2000:52). However, it was only in more recent times that this Citrus species was introduced to some of the atoll islands of Kiribati and Tuvalu.
Uses: Ethnobotanically, the kaffir lime, C. hystrix is a versatile plant, especially in its native range of tropical Asia. For example, in Malaysia, the kaffir lime, C. hystrix, is planted around homes andhas been used as “a traditional medicine for stomachache caused by dyspepsia” (Gimlette and Thomson 1983). In Thailand, it has many traditional and modern uses such as a medicinal, ritualistic and grooming shampoo; the juice of the fruit C. hystrix is used as a cleanser for clothing and hair in Thailand:
Thais relied on the humble kaffir lime crop to clean their hair. It's simple -- cut the fruit in half and rub it against your head of hair. But if you fancy a more sophisticated technique, you can grill the fruit first, then cut it and rub it in. The latter technique makes the fruit turn slightly slimy. Still, the fruit acts more or less like a shampoo. After rinsing it off, your hair will look clean and silky. The royal tonsure ceremony, called so kan in Thai, was once an elaborate ceremony reserved for young royals -- boys aged 13, girls aged 11 -- of chopping off a segment of one's hair. Back then, children would have their hair cleaned with lime first, making it in an indispensable part of the ceremony. Some modern shampoo manufacturers use kaffir lime as their special ingredient (Sukphisit 2017).
In Micronesia, the leaves of the kaffir lime are sometimes used for culinary purposes such as a flavoring in cooked sauces; and the wood of this tree is also occasionally used for making handicrafts in Micronesia. In addition, its fragrant and attractive flowers are from time to time used as garlands throughout the Pacific” (Thaman et al. 2000). Indeed, the rind and crushed leaves of the kaffir lime emit an intense citrus fragrance. Stone (1970:354) noted that the macerated pulp and leaves of C. macroptera (wild orange), C. aurantium (sour orange) and C. hystrix (kaffir lime) were utilized as shampoo on Guam (also see Manner et al. 2006:259).