Atalantia monophylla

Wild Lime, Single-leaf Atalantia, Hill Lime

Message of the Flower

Absence of Desire

The Mother’s Comment

Luminous and fragrant, it expresses both peace and joy.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

Our renunciation must obviously be an inward renunciation; especially and above all, a renunciation of attachment and the craving of desire in the senses and the heart, of self-will in the thought and action and of egoism in the centre of the consciousness. For these things are the three knots by which we are bound to our lower nature and if we can renounce these utterly, there is nothing else that can bind us.

Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga - I: Renunciation

There is a sovereign royalty in taking no thought for oneself. To have needs is to assert a weakness; to claim something proves that we lack what we claim. To desire is to be impotent; it is to recognise our limitations and confess our incapacity to overcome them.

If only from the point of view of a legitimate pride, man should be noble enough to renounce desire.

The Mother, Prayers and Meditations: March 30, 1917

All renunciation is for a greater joy yet ungrasped. Some renounce for the joy of duty done, some for the joy of peace, some for the joy of God and some for the joy of self-torture, but renounce rather as a passage to the freedom and untroubled rapture beyond.

Sri Aurobindo, Essays Divine and Human: Jnana

Colour

White

Family

Rutaceae

Cultivars

Not commonly reported

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

Small, typically a few centimeters in diameter.

Flower Texture

Smooth and waxy.

Number of Petals

Usually 4-5 petals.

Floral Symmetry

Radially symmetrical.

Fragrance of Flower

Fragrant, with a sweet citrus scent.

Leaf Texture

Smooth, glossy.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Color

Dark Green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Small tree or shrub.

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Varies by climate, typically spring to early summer.

Climate

Tropical and subtropical.

Water Requirements

Moderate; prefers well-drained soil but can tolerate drought once established.

Soil Type

Adaptable to a variety of soil types, from sandy to loamy.

Temperature Ranges

Best in warm climates; not frost-tolerant.

Sun or Shade

Prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade.

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Susceptible to common citrus pests and diseases.

Pollinators

Attracts bees and other pollinating insects.

Habitat

Native to South and Southeast Asia; found in forests, hillsides, and cultivated areas.

Role in the Ecosystem

Provides food for wildlife; used in traditional agroforestry systems.

Ornamental

Sometimes grown for its ornamental value and fragrant flowers.

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Primarily medicinal and culinary uses.

Endangered Status

Not listed as endangered, but habitat destruction could impact wild populations.