It grows in forest margins in the Beenleigh area and northwards, in Queensland, Australia.

[3] The 1889 book The Useful Native Plants of Australia records that "The fruit, which is an inch and a-half in diameter and almost globular, yields an agreeable beverage from its acid juice.

The vesicles are usually very firm, are paler in shade, fusiform, and more often than not angular with blunt tips.

[9] It is also about 2 to 5 cm (0.79 to 1.97 in) wide in diameter, making it easier to distinguish against common limes which tend to be bigger in size.

A further breakdown of the oils inside the leaves of the Citrus australis shows that it is composed of "a-pinene (68–80%), as well as P-pinene (2-4%), myrcene (3-5%), limonene (2-3%), p-phellandrene (1-2%), linalool(l-2%), bicyclogermacrene (1-4%), globulol (1-3%) and viridiflorol (3-5%)".

[10] The Citrus australis can be found in southeast Queensland, especially from Brisbane northwards in the lowland sub-tropical rainforests.

The lime's characteristics include growing slowly and needing protection, especially when the plant is still young.

The propagated plant can be slow to develop roots, and can also be budded onto Citrus rootstock.

The peels can also be cut to make an accent for pastas, or can be ground for a subtle integration into the sauce.

The flowering season is restricted to spring, and fruits are ripe from November to March when the skin turns greenish-yellow.

However, while the Citrus australis has a dryer flesh than the Tahitian lime, it can be cut in half or used as a whole to flavor many dishes.

As it is one of the most commonly seen vigorous native Australian species, it is worth noting that they are not resistant to viroid infection.

The appearance of the lime when compared to its parents most commonly resembles the Citrus australasica with the size of the leaves and the shape of the fruit.

As the plant is grown on volcanic soils, the wood of the Citrus australis is close-grained and suitable for cabinet making and engravings.

Through DNA replication and phylogenetic relationships, it is believed that the Citrus australis has evolved over millions of years, from a primitive ancestral type that underwent speciation in Australia and New Guinea.