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Limonia acidissima is the only species within the monotypicgenusLimonia. Common names for this South Asian species in English include wood-apple and elephant-apple.[3] It is sometimes also called monkey fruit.
Limonia acidissima is a large tree growing to 9 metres (30 ft) tall with rough, spiny bark.[4] The leaves are pinnate, with 5–7 leaflets, each leaflet 25–35 mm long and 10–20 mm broad, with a citrus-scent when crushed.[4] The flowers are white and have five petals. The large fruit is a berry 5–9 cm diameter, and may be sweet or sour.[5] It has a very hard rind similar to a rock, which can be cracked open. It appears greenish-brown on the outside, and contains sticky brown pulp and small white seeds.[5] The fruit looks similar in appearance to the bael fruit (Aegle marmelos).
A number of other species formerly included in the genus are now treated in the related genera Atalantia, Citropsis, Citrus, Glycosmis, Luvunga, Murraya, Micromelum, Naringi, Pamburus, Pleiospermium, Severinia, Skimmia, Swinglea, and Triphasia.[6]
Limonia acidissima is native to India (including the Andaman Islands), Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.[7][8] The species has also been introduced to Indochina and Malesia.[8][7]
The fruit is used to make a fruit juice with astringent properties and jams. Ripe fruit can be used as a pickle (mashed with green chili pepper, sugar and salt only).[9]
In some parts of India, mainly Gujarat, the fruit pulp is used to make chutney, which is then used as a main condiment in and on top of meals, especially in winter.
タミル・ナードゥ州では、ウッドアップルは至る所に自生しており、熟した果実は砂糖や他の甘味料と混ぜて食べられています。ウッドアップル（ vilam ）という名前は、伝統的なタミル語の歌における2音節の韻律脚の典型的な例として用いられています。[ 10 ]
この果物には、タンパク質、炭水化物、鉄分、脂肪、カルシウム、ビタミンB群、ビタミンCが相当量含まれている。
Media related to Limonia acidissima at Wikimedia Commons