While lemons and limes have a lot of things in common, they are still distinctly different from each other. Externally, limes are generally smaller than lemons, and their color tends to be on the bright green side, as opposed to lemons that are bright yellow. Nutritionally, they’re on par with the lemon in terms of vitamins and minerals provided per serving. In taste, lemons tend to be sweeter than limes. All in all, they are both citrus fruits that are vitally important in the flavoring of many food and non-food items.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Order: Sapindales
- Family: Rutaceae
- Genus: Citrus
- Species: Varies
- Binomial name: Varies
Lime Trivia
- If lemons have lemonade, limes have limeade.
- In the 19th century, British sailors were required to consume one lime a day to prevent scurvy, this is why British sailors are known as “limeys” today.
- Contrary to popular belief, limes aren’t just unripe lemons.