Citron

Citron
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Rutaceae
Genus:	Citrus
Species:	C. medica
Binomial name
Citrus medica L.
Synonyms[2][3]
Citrus alata (Tanaka) Tanaka Citrus bicolor Poit. & Turpin  Citrus cedra Link   Citrus fragrans Salisb. Citrus limonimedica (Lush.) Citrus odorata (Wester) Tanaka

The citron (Citrus medica), historically cedrate,^[4] is a large fragrant citrus fruit with a thick rind. It is said to resemble a 'huge, rough lemon'.^[5] It is one of the original citrus fruits from which all other citrus types developed through natural hybrid speciation or artificial hybridization.^[6] Though citron cultivars take on a wide variety of physical forms, they are all closely related genetically. It is used in Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, traditional medicines, perfume, and religious rituals and offerings. Hybrids of citrons with other citrus are commercially more prominent, notably lemons and many limes.

The fruit's English name "citron" derives ultimately from Latin, citrus, which is also the origin of the genus name.

A source of confusion is that 'citron' in French and English are false friends, as the French word 'citron' refers to what in English is a lemon; whereas the French word for the citron is 'cédrat'. Indeed, into the 16th century, the English term citron included the lemon and perhaps the lime as well.^{[7][failed verification]} Other languages that use variants of citron to refer to the lemon include Armenian, Czech, Dutch, Finnish, German, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Esperanto, Polish and the Scandinavian languages.

In Italian it is known as cedro, the same name used also to indicate the coniferous tree

. In Indo-Iranian languages, it is called turunj, as against naranj ('bitter orange'). Both names were borrowed into Arabic and introduced into Spain and Portugal after their occupation by Muslims in AD 711, whence the latter became the source of the name orange through rebracketing (and the former of 'toronja' and 'toranja', which today describe the grapefruit in Spanish and Portuguese respectively).^[8]

Dutch merchants seasonally import Sukade for baked goods; a thick, light green colored commercially candied half peeling from Indonesia and other countries (sukade – Indonesian word for love, Citrus médica variety 'Macrocárpa'), which can reach 2.5 kilograms mass. A bitter taste is removed by salt treatment before processing into confectionery.^[9]

In Hebrew it is called an etrog (אתרוג); in Yiddish, it is pronounced "esrog" or "esreg". The citron plays an important role in the harvest holiday of Sukkot paired with lulavim (fronds of the date palm).

The citron is an old and original citrus species.^[11]

There is molecular evidence that most cultivated citrus species arose by

Archaeological evidence for citrus fruits has been limited, as neither seeds nor pollen are likely to be routinely recovered in archaeology.[19] The citron is thought to have been native to India,^[18] in valleys at the foothills of the eastern Himalayas. It is thought that by the 4th century BC, when Theophrastus mentions the "Median apple." Despite its scientific designation, which is an adaptation of the old name in classical Greek sources “Median pome”, this fruit was not indigenous to Media or ancient Media ^{[20] [21]} the citron was mostly cultivated in the Caspian Sea (north of Mazandarn and Gilan) on its way to the Mediterranean basin, where it was cultivated during the later centuries in different areas as described by Erich Isaac.^[22] Many mention the role of Alexander the Great and his armies as they attacked Iran and what is today Pakistan, as being responsible for the spread of the citron westward, reaching the European countries such as Greece and Italy.^{[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]}

Leviticus mentions the "fruit of the beautiful ('hadar') tree" as being required for ritual use during the

aspects of the citron.

The

as early as the 3rd millennium BC.

The citron has been cultivated since ancient times, predating the cultivation of other citrus species.^[32]

The following description on citron was given by Theophrastus^[33]

fingered citron

with the leaves and thorns that are common to all varieties of citron

In the east and south there are special plants ... i.e. in Media(Perhaps they mistakenly called it Mad because it was located in the east of Parthia and south and the tree grows in the question of Caspian sea, Mazandaran, Gilan , not Mad

breath

, for if one boils the inner part of the fruit in a dish or squeezes it into the mouth in some other medium, it makes the breath more pleasant.

The seed is removed from the fruit and sown in the spring in carefully tilled beds, and it is watered every fourth or fifth day. As soon the plant is strong it is transplanted, also in the spring, to a soft, well watered site, where the soil is not very fine, for it prefers such places.

And it bears its fruit at all

pistil] projecting from the middle are fertile, while those that do not have this are sterile. It is also sown, like date palms

, in pots punctured with holes.

This tree, as has been remarked, grows in Media and Persia.

Pliny the Elder

Citron was also described by Pliny the Elder, who called it nata Assyria malus. The following is from his book Natural History:

There is another tree also with the same name of "citrus", and bears a fruit that is held by some persons in particular dislike for its smell and remarkable bitterness; while, on the other hand, there are some who esteem it very highly. This tree is used as an ornament to houses; it requires, however, no further description.^[37]

The citron tree, called the Assyrian, and by some the Median or Persian apple, is an antidote against poisons. The leaf is similar to that of the arbute, except that it has small prickles running across it. As to the fruit, it is never eaten, but it is remarkable for its extremely powerful smell, which is the case, also, with the leaves; indeed, the odour is so strong, that it will penetrate clothes, when they are once impregnated with it, and hence it is very useful in repelling the attacks of noxious insects.

The tree bears fruit at all seasons of the year; while some is falling off, other fruit is ripening, and other, again, just bursting into birth. Various nations have attempted to naturalize this tree among them, for the sake of its medica or Persian properties, by planting it in pots of clay, with holes drilled in them, for the purpose of introducing the air to the roots; and I would here remark, once for all, that it is as well to remember that the best plan is to pack all slips of trees that have to be carried to any distance, as close together as they can possibly be placed.

It has been found, however, that this tree will grow nowhere except in Persia. It is this fruit, the pips of which, as we have already mentioned, the Parthian grandees employ in seasoning their ragouts, as being peculiarly conducive to the sweetening of the breath. We find no other tree very highly commended that is produced in Media.^[38]

Citrons, either the pulp of them or the pips, are taken in wine as an antidote to poisons. A decoction of citrons, or the juice extracted from them, is used as a gargle to impart sweetness to the breath. The pips of this fruit are recommended for pregnant women to chew when affected with

qualmishness. Citrons are good, also, for a weak stomach, but it is not easy to eat them except with vinegar.^[39]

Medieval authors

Ibn al-'Awwam's 12th-century agricultural encyclopedia, Book on Agriculture, contains an article on citron tree cultivation in Spain.^[40]

citron-like hybrid

of Italian origin, showing the thick rind

The citron fruit is usually

, which forms independently according to the fruits' position on the tree, twig orientation, and many other factors. The rind is leathery, furrowed, and adherent. The inner portion is thick, white and hard; the outer is uniformly thin and very fragrant. The pulp is usually acidic, but also can be sweet, and some varieties are entirely pulpless.

Most citron varieties contain a large number of

.

Some citrons have medium-sized oil bubbles at the outer surface, medially distant to each other. Some varieties are ribbed and faintly warted on the outer surface. A fingered citron variety is commonly called Buddha's hand.

The color varies from green, when unripe, to a yellow-orange when overripe. The citron does not fall off the tree and can reach 8–10 pounds (4–5 kg) if not picked before fully mature.^[41][12] However, they should be picked before the winter, as the branches might bend or break to the ground, and may cause numerous fungal diseases for the tree.

Despite the wide variety of forms taken on by the fruit, citrons are all closely related genetically, representing a single species.^[18][42] Genetic analysis divides the known cultivars into three clusters: a Mediterranean cluster thought to have originated in India, and two clusters predominantly found in China, one representing the fingered citrons, and another consisting of non-fingered varieties.^[42]

albedo, which is important for the production of succade

Citrus medica is a slow-growing

are usually wingless or with minor wings. The clustered flowers of the acidic varieties are purplish tinted from outside, but the sweet ones are white-yellowish.

Citron varieties
Acidic-pulp varieties
Balady citron Diamante citron Greek citron
Non-acidic varieties
Corsican citron Moroccan citron
Pulpless varieties
Fingered citron Yemenite citron
Citron hybrids
Bizzarria Florentine citron Kabbad Lumia Pompia Ponderosa lemon Rangpur lime Rhobs el Arsa Rough lemon Volkamer lemon
Related articles
Citrus taxonomy Etrog Succade
v t e

The citron tree is very vigorous with almost no dormancy, blooming several times a year, and is therefore fragile and extremely sensitive to frost.[43]

The

.

There are also a number of citron hybrids; for example, ponderosa lemon, the lumia and rhobs el Arsa are known citron hybrids. Some claim^[45] that even the Florentine citron is not pure citron, but a citron hybrid.

While the

known in Greek as "kítro glykó" (κίτρο γλυκό), or diced and candied with sugar and used as a confection in cakes. In Italy, a soft drink called "Cedrata" is made from the fruit.

In Samoa a refreshing drink called "vai tipolo" is made from squeezed juice. It is also added to a raw fish dish called "oka" and to a variation of palusami or luáu.

Citron is a regularly used item in Asian cuisine.

Today the citron is also used for the

as it is known when it is candied in sugar.

The dozens of varieties of citron are collectively known as Lebu in Bangladesh, West Bengal, where it is the primary citrus fruit.

In Iran the citron's thick white rind is used to make jam; in

.

• 
  A citron halved and depulped, cooked in sugar
• 
  Cedrata, a citron soft drink from Italy
• 
  Citron torte

From

]

The juice of the citron has a high content of

Religious

In Judaism

The citron (the word for which in Hebrew is

In Buddhism

Main article: Buddha's hand

A variety of citron native to

Buddhist temples.^[49]

In Hinduism

In

Bhai Tika ceremony during Tihar.^[50] The worship is thought to stem from the belief that it is a favorite of Yama, Hindu god of death, and his sister Yami.^[51]

Perfumery

For many centuries, citron's fragrant essential oil (oil of cedrate) has been used in perfumery, the same oil that was used medicinally for its antibiotic properties. Its major constituent is limonene.^[52]

See also

• Archaeological finds of citrons in Israel
• Gallery of Etrog citrons
• Gallery of Fingered citrons
• Candied Fruit Peel

Gallery

• 
  In a German market, for culinary use
• 
  In fruit market of Italy
• 
  Naxos citrons and leaf
• 
  Citron or

  hybrid in Sicily
• 
  A wild citron in India
• 
  Citron flowers
• 
  Unknown citron type in pot
• 
  A Corsican citron
• 
  Bijora - Citron fruit for sale at Bhujpur, Kutch, Gujarat, India
• 
  Citron growing in Uttarakhand,

Citations

1. ^ Plummer, J. 2021. Citrus medica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T62041221A62041228. Downloaded on 06 September 2021.
2. S2CID 242819146
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3. ^ "Citrus medica L. Sp. Pl. : 782 (1753)". World Flora Online. World Flora Consortium. 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
4. ^ "Cedrate". Collins English Dictionary.
5. OCLC 890807357
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6. ISBN 978-94-017-9275-2
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7. ^ "Home : Oxford English Dictionary". oed.com.
8. ^ "Citrus medica" (PDF). plantlives.com. 2 October 2021.
9. ISBN 9789022610220
   .
10. ISBN 9782918887775
    .
11. ^ Chambers, William and Robert (1862). Chambers's Encyclopedia: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge for the People. London: W. and R. Chambers. p. 55, vol. 3.
12. ^ ^{a b} The Search for the Authentic Citron: Historic and Genetic Analysis; HortScience 40(7):1963–1968. 2005 Archived September 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
13. S2CID 24057066
    .
14. S2CID 7667126. Archived from the original
    on 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
15. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2004.01.003
    .
16. S2CID 84015769
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17. S2CID 26046238
    .
18. ^
    PMID 29414943
    .
19. ISBN 9782918887775
    .
20. ^ "Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica".
21. ^ Inquiry into Plants 4.iv.2.
22. JSTOR 142080
    .
23. ^ ^{a b} "Citron: Citrus medica Linn". Purdue University.
24. ISBN 9780849388040
    .
25. ^ "ethrog". University of California, Riverside. Archived from the original on 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
26. ISBN 9780849389818
    .
27. ISBN 9780203216613
    .
28. ^ Biology of Citrus^{[dead link]}
29. ISBN 9781406781564
    .
30. Emmanuel Bonavia (1888). The Cultivated Oranges and Lemons, Etc. of India and Ceylon
    . W. H. Allen. p. 255.
31. ^ Britain), Royal Horticultural Society (Great (1894). "Scientific Committee, March 28, 1893: The Antiquity of the Citron in Egypt". Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society. 16.
32. S2CID 33447866
    .
33. ^ Historia plantarum 4.4.2–3 (exc. Athenaeus Deipnosophistae 3.83.d-f); cf. Vergil Georgics 2.126-135; Pliny Naturalis historia 12.15,16.
34. ^ "Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica".
35. ^ Britain), Royal Horticultural Society (Great (1894). "Scientific Committee, March 28, 1893: The Antiquity of the Citron in Egypt". Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society. 16.
36. ^ Historia plantarum 1.13.4.
37. ^ "Chap. 31.—The Citron-Tree". Perseus Digital Library. Tufts University. excerpting from John Bostock; H. T. Riley, eds. (1855). The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. London: Taylor and Francis.
38. ^ "Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, Book XII. The Natural History of Trees, Chap. 7. (3.)—How the Citron Is Planted". Tufts University.
39. ^ "Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, Book XXIII. The Remedies Derived from the Cultivated Trees., Chap. 56.—Citrons: Five Observations upon Them". Tufts University.
40. OCLC 780050566. (pp. 292
    –297 (Article XXIX)
41. ^ Un curieux Cedrat marocain, Chapot 1950.
42. ^
    doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2015.09.004
    .
43. ^ "Website Disabled". University of California, Riverside. Archived from the original on 2008-03-08.
44. ^ Meena, Ajay Kumar; Kandale, Ajit; Rao, M. M.; Panda, P.; Reddy, Govind (2011). "A review on citron-pharmacognosy, phytochemistry and medicinal uses". The Journal of Pharmacy. 2 (1): 14–20.
45. ^ "ponderosa". citrusvariety.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
46. ^ "Bijora Pickle". Jain World. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-08-23.
47. PMID 16743304
    .
48. ^ See Etrog
49. ^ "buddha". citrusvariety.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
50. ^ "बिमिरो पूजासँगै खाउँ पनि!". shikshakmasik.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2022-10-26.
51. ^ Nasana (2016-10-29). "Decoding Bhai Tika symbols". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
52. PMID 11328766
    .

Further reading

• H. Harold Hume, Citrus Fruits and Their Culture
• Frederick J. Simoons, Food in China: A Cultural and Historical Inquiry
• Pinhas Spiegel-Roy, Eliezer E. Goldschmidt, Biology of Citrus
• Alphonse de Candolle, Origin of Cultivated Plants

External links

Wikispecies has information related to Citrus medica.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Citrus medica and Citrons (Citrus medica).

• USDA Plants Profile – Citrus medica Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
• "Citron" Purdue University
• University of California- "Citrus Diversity"
• Buddha's Hand citron by David Karp (pomologist)