Makrut Lime

*Citrus hystrix*

How to know it

A small thorny citrus tree with unmistakable double leaves, each looking like two joined end to end. The fruit is small, dark green and deeply wrinkled.

What it does

The leaves are the flavouring, used in Thai and Indonesian cooking. The zest is used too, but the juice rarely. In several parts of the region the fruit is used in hair washing and cleaning.

Safety

Sharp thorns along the branches, so supervise picking. Otherwise safe.

Two things to do with children

Tear a leaf in half and smell it. The scent is strong and instantly recognisable to any child who eats Thai food, and connecting the taste to the plant is the moment.

Compare the double leaf with a normal citrus leaf. It is one of the few leaf shapes children can identify from across a garden.