Buddha's hand

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Fingered citron
Buddha's hand fruit, "open hand" appearance when ripe
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Sapindales
Family:
Rutaceae
Genus:
Citrus
Species:
C. medica
Variety:
C. m. var. sarcodactylis
Trinomial name
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis
(Hoola van Nooten) Swingle
Citron varieties
Acidic-pulp varieties
Non-acidic varieties
Pulpless varieties
Citron hybrids
Related articles
Buddha's hand
Chinese name
Hanyu Pinyin
fóshǒugān
Vietnamese nameVietnamesequả phật thủKorean nameHangul불수감Hanja佛手柑Japanese nameKanji仏手柑

Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis, or the fingered citron, is a

the Buddha. It is called Buddha's hand in many languages including English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and French
.

The different cultivars and variations of this citron variety form a gradient from "open-hand" types with outward-splayed segments to "closed-hand" types, in which the fingers are kept together. There are also half-fingered fruits, in which the basal side is united and the apical side fingered. The origin of this kind of citron is commonly traced back to South or East Asia, probably northeastern India or China, where most domesticated citrus fruits originate.[1]

Description

Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis

thorns. Its large, oblong leaves are pale green and grow about four to six inches. Its white flowers are tinted purplish from the outside and grow in fragrant clusters. The fruit's fingers contain only the white part of the fruit and sometimes a small amount of acidic pulp, but many of them are completely juiceless and some are seedless.[3]

The plant is sensitive to frost, as well as intense heat and drought. It grows best in a temperate climate. Trees can be grown from cuttings taken from branches two to four years old. It is very commonly grafted onto sufficient rootstock.

Uses

Perfumery

Buddha's hand fruit is very fragrant and is used predominantly in China and Japan for perfuming rooms and personal items such as clothing.

Religious

The fruit may be given as a

Buddhist temples. According to tradition, Buddha prefers the "fingers" of the fruit to be in a position where they resemble a closed rather than open hand, as closed hands symbolize to Buddha the act of prayer. In China, the Buddha's hand fruit is a symbol of happiness, longevity, and good fortune. It is also a traditional temple offering and a New Year's gift.[4]

The question of whether a Buddha's hand is acceptable for use as an etrog on Sukkot was addressed by Rabbi Abdallah Somekh and his disciple, Rabbi Yosef Hayyim, both of Baghdad. The former was inclined to permit it, whereas the latter maintained that one may not use a variety of etrog in the absence of a positive tradition of its having been used.[5]

Ornamental

The fingered citron is cultivated as an

ornamental tree in gardens and containers on patios and terraces. In the United States, its unripe fruits have been sold under the trademark goblin fingers as a decorative Halloween novelty.[6]

Food and medicine

Unlike other citrus fruits, most varieties of the Buddha's hand fruit contain no pulp or juice. Though esteemed chiefly for its "exquisite form and aroma", the Buddha's hand fruit can also be eaten (often as a

candied as a sweet. The sliced, dried peel of immature fruits is also prescribed as a tonic in traditional medicine.[3]

Gallery

  • A fingered citron by Volckamer
    A fingered citron by
    Volckamer
  • Fingered citron by Wellcome Trust
    Fingered citron by Wellcome Trust
  • Huge fruit breaking bearing twig
    Huge fruit breaking bearing twig
  • Buddha's hand citron in Val Rahmeh botanical garden
    Buddha's hand citron in Val Rahmeh botanical garden
  • Semi-fingered and closed
    Semi-fingered and closed
  • Closed fingers
    Closed fingers
  • Side view
    Side view
  • A fingered citron
    A fingered citron
  • Semi-closed fingers
    Semi-closed fingers
  • In Villa di Castello
    In Villa di Castello
  • Semi dwarf fingered citron (green)
    Semi dwarf fingered citron (green)
  • With open fingers
    With open fingers
  • Cross section in a Variety etrog citron, and in fingered citron
    Cross section in a
    Variety etrog
    citron, and in fingered citron

See also

References

  1. Karp, David (Winter 1998). "Buddha's Hand Citron". Flavor and Fortune. 5 (4). Kings Park, NY: Institute for the Advancement of the Science and Art of Chinese Cuisine: 5–6. Archived from the original
    on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  2. Storrs, CT: University of Connecticut
    , Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Plant Growth Facilities. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  3. ^ a b "Buddha's hand citron". Catalog of the Citrus Variety Collection. Riverside, CA: University of California, Riverside, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Citrus Experiment Station. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  4. ^ "Buddhas Hand". Melissa's Produce.
  5. ^ "Responsa Zivhei Tzedek, Orah Hayim §37".
  6. ISBN 978-3-031-25775-9
    .

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buddha%27s_hand&oldid=1219537696"