What is Microcitrus australasica? 

It is the Finger Lime, citric caviar or vegetable caviar.

The finger lime or Microcitrus australasica is a curious and wild citrus, native to subtropical areas of Australia, especially Queensland and New South Wales.

Its is a shrub that grows in the semi-shade subtropical trees in the area. Since the 90s it is grown commercially and has had great success among the great chefs of world cuisine. Its main feature that makes it unique among the other citrus pulp inside is grouped in small areas to cut scatter as if they were fish roe caviar, hence the name of citric or vegetable caviar.

It is used in salads, cocktails, cakes and jams, but also plenty of haute cuisine and gastronomic innovation.

In English they call for his finger-shaped lime finger, although there are and have them, of hybrid varieties that even being caviar pulp, its exterior has no way of finger.
Chewing small pellets in the mouth a delicious citrus flavor that varies in acidity, sweetness and aroma, between its different varieties.

Cultivation and recommendations

It's culture is very similar to any citrus but it is more resistant to pests and pathogens, can not stand frost so that can be grown in pots and protect it in times of cold indoors with minimal care produces several blooms and crops a year and its fruits grow clustered when the harvest is good, it is a shrub that more than appreciate the care and nutrition to be given.
Reproduction by seeds Microcitrus australasica does not apply to preserve the characteristics of the variety to be obtained, seedlings not give a fruit equal to the plant from which they were obtained, besides the entry into production of the plant will be the Triple time by vegetative propagation by grafting.
One of the precautions for obtain fruits to the market called first class is that the fruit is free from scratches or rubs on your skin, the wind causes such damage, it is important to prevent the trees have wind protected and / or clarify the spiked branches near fruit.

Here we can see three newly planted trees in the experimental farm in Australia of Frutalestropicales.com, varieties from left to right, Alstonville, Red champagne and  Crimson Tide, you can see who are among mango trees to simulate as far as possible their original habitat Australian subtropical forests.

All varieties are registered or in the process of registration in their home country (Australia) and have ACRA registration, more information here: www.anbg.gov.au/acra