Limonia acidissima is a large tree growing to 9 metres (30 ft) tall, with rough, spiny bark.

It has a very hard rind similar to a rock which can be cracked open, it appears greenish-brown in colour from outside and contains sticky brown pulp and small white seeds.

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.

[4] Limonia acidissima is native to India (including the Andaman Islands), Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

[citation needed] In Myanmar, the wood is used to make the distinctive local face cream thanaka.