Lemon
Lemon | |
---|---|
A fruiting lemon tree (blossom visible) | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Sapindales |
Family: | Rutaceae |
Genus: | Citrus |
Species: | C. × limon
|
Binomial name | |
Citrus × limon (
Osbeck | |
Synonyms[1] | |
List
|
The lemon (Citrus × limon) is a species of small evergreen tree in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to Asia, primarily Northeast India (Assam), Northern Myanmar, and China.[2]
The tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world, primarily for its juice, which has both culinary and cleaning uses.[2] The pulp and rind are also used in cooking and baking. The juice of the lemon is about 5-6% citric acid,[citation needed] with a pH of around 2.2,[3] giving it a sour taste. The distinctive sour taste of lemon juice, derived from the citric acid, makes it a key ingredient in drinks and foods[4] such as lemonade and lemon meringue pie.
Description
The lemon tree produces an ellipsoidal yellow fruit.
Chemistry
Lemons contain numerous phytochemicals, including polyphenols, terpenes, and tannins.[5] Lemon juice contains slightly more citric acid than lime juice (about 47 g/L), nearly twice the citric acid of grapefruit juice, and about five times the amount of citric acid found in orange juice.[6]
Taxonomy
The origin of the lemon is unknown, though lemons are thought to have first grown in Assam (a region in northeast India), northern Myanmar, or China.[2][failed verification] A genomic study of the lemon indicated it was a hybrid between bitter orange (sour orange) and citron.[7][8]
The origin of the word lemon may be Middle Eastern.[2] The word draws from the Old French limon, then Italian limone, from the Arabic laymūn or līmūn, and from the Persian līmūn, a generic term for citrus fruit, which is a cognate of Sanskrit (nimbū, 'lime').[9]
Varieties
The 'Bonnie Brae' is oblong, smooth, thin-skinned, and seedless.
The 'Eureka' grows year-round and abundantly. This is the common supermarket lemon, also known as 'Four Seasons' (Quatre Saisons) because of its ability to produce fruit and flowers together throughout the year. This variety is also available as a plant for domestic customers.
The Lisbon lemon is very similar to the Eureka and is the other common supermarket lemon. It is smoother than the Eureka, has thinner skin, and has fewer or no seeds. It generally produces more juice than the Eureka.[14][15]
The 'Femminello St. Teresa', or 'Sorrento'[16] originates in Italy. This fruit's zest is high in lemon oils. It is the variety traditionally used in the making of limoncello.
The 'Yen Ben' is an Australasian cultivar.[17]
Cultivation
History
Lemons are supposed to have entered
The first substantial cultivation of lemons in Europe began in Genoa in the middle of the 15th century. The lemon was later introduced to the Americas in 1493, when Christopher Columbus brought lemon seeds to Hispaniola on his voyages. Spanish conquest throughout the New World helped spread lemon seeds. It was mainly used as an ornamental plant and for medicine.[2] In the 19th century, lemons were increasingly planted in Florida and California.[2]
In 1747,
Propagation
Lemons need a minimum temperature of around 7 °C (45 °F), so they are not hardy year-round in temperate climates, but become hardier as they mature.[20] Citrus require minimal pruning by trimming overcrowded branches, with the tallest branch cut back to encourage bushy growth.[20] Throughout summer, pinching back tips of the most vigorous growth assures more abundant canopy development. As mature plants may produce unwanted, fast-growing shoots (called "water shoots"), these are removed from the main branches at the bottom or middle of the plant.[20]
The tradition of urinating near a lemon tree[21][22][23] may be beneficial as urine is a fertilizer.
In cultivation in the UK, the cultivars "Meyer"[24] and "Variegata"[25] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017).[26]
Production
Lemon (and lime) production, 2022
(in millions of tonnes) | |
---|---|
Country | 2022 |
India | 3.8 |
Mexico | 3.1 |
China | 2.6 |
Argentina | 1.8 |
Brazil | 1.6 |
Turkey | 1.3 |
World | 21.5 |
Source: FAOSTAT of the United Nations.[27]
|
In 2022, world production of lemons (combined with limes for reporting) was 22 million tonnes led by India with 18% of the total. Mexico and China were major secondary producers (table).
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
---|---|
Energy | 121 kJ (29 kcal) |
9.32 g | |
Sugars | 2.5 g |
Dietary fiber | 2.8 g |
0.3 g | |
1.1 g | |
Niacin (B3) | 1% 0.1 mg |
Pantothenic acid (B5) | 4% 0.19 mg |
Vitamin B6 | 5% 0.08 mg |
Folate (B9) | 3% 11 μg |
Choline | 1% 5.1 mg |
Vitamin C | 59% 53 mg |
Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
Calcium | 2% 26 mg |
Iron | 3% 0.6 mg |
Magnesium | 2% 8 mg |
Manganese | 1% 0.03 mg |
Phosphorus | 1% 16 mg |
Potassium | 3% 138 mg |
Zinc | 1% 0.06 mg |
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults.[28] |
Uses
Nutrition
Lemon is a rich source of
Culinary
Lemon juice, rind, and peel are used in a wide variety of foods and drinks. The whole lemon is used to make
Juice
Lemon juice is used to make
Lemon juice is also used as a short-term
, where its acid denatures the enzymes.Peel
In Morocco, lemons are preserved in jars or barrels of salt. The salt penetrates the peel and rind, softening them, and curing them so that they last almost indefinitely.[30] The preserved lemon is used in a wide variety of dishes. Preserved lemons can also be found in Sicilian, Italian, Greek, and French dishes.
The peel can be used in the manufacture of pectin, a polysaccharide used as a gelling agent and stabilizer in food and other products.[31]
Oil
Lemon oil is extracted from oil-containing cells in the skin. A machine breaks up the cells and uses a water spray to flush off the oil. The oil–water mixture is then filtered and separated by centrifugation.[32]
Leaves
The leaves of the lemon tree are used to make a tea and for preparing cooked meats and seafoods.
Other uses
Industrial
Lemons were the primary commercial source of
Aroma
Lemon oil may be used in aromatherapy. Lemon oil aroma does not influence the human immune system,[34] but may contribute to relaxation.[35]
Other
One educational science experiment involves attaching
Lemon juice may be used as a simple invisible ink, developed by heat.[37]
Lemon juice can be used to increase the
Other citrus called "lemons"
- Flat lemon, a mandarin hybrid.
- Meyer lemon, a cross between a citron and a mandarin/pomelo hybrid distinct from sour or sweet orange,[40] named after Frank N. Meyer, who first introduced it to the United States in 1908. Thin-skinned and slightly less acidic than the Lisbon and Eureka lemons, Meyer lemons require more care when shipping and are not widely grown on a commercial basis. Meyer lemons often mature to a yellow-orange color. They are slightly more frost tolerant.
- Ponderosa lemon, more cold-sensitive than true lemons, the fruit are thick-skinned and very large. Genetic analysis showed it to be a complex hybrid of citron and pomelo.[40]
- Rough lemon, a citron-mandarin cross, cold-hardy and often used as a citrus rootstock[40]
- Sweet lemons or sweet limes, a mixed group including the lumia (pear lemon), limetta, and Palestinian sweet lime. Among them is the Jaffa lemon, a pomelo-citron hybrid.[40]
- Volkamer lemon, like the rough lemon, a citron-mandarin cross[40]
In culture
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2023) |
See also
References
- ^ "Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck". World Flora Online. The World Flora Online Consortium. 2022. Archived from the original on March 14, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Julia F. Morton (1987). "Lemon in Fruits of Warm Climates". Purdue University. pp. 160–168. Archived from the original on November 26, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
- ISBN 9780470920930. Archivedfrom the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- ISBN 9780080453828. Archivedfrom the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- PMID 25024932.
- PMID 18290732.
- .
- ^ Genetic origin of cultivated citrus determined: Researchers find evidence of origins of orange, lime, lemon, grapefruit, other citrus species" Archived September 21, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Science Daily, January 26, 2011 (Retrieved February 10, 2017).
- ^ Douglas Harper. "Online Etymology Dictionary". Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
- ^ Spalding, William A. (1885). The orange: its culture in California. Riverside, California: Press and Horticulturist Steam Print. p. 88. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
Bonnie Brae lemon.
- ISBN 978-1-4286-4244-7. Archivedfrom the original on March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- ^ Buchan, Ursula (January 22, 2005). "Kitchen garden: lemon tree". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
- Citrus Variety Collection.
- ^ "frostlisbon". citrusvariety.ucr.edu. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ says, 3 Easy Tips: How to Plant Lemon Seeds at Home Indoors or Outdoors (February 1, 2007). "Eureka Lemon and Lisbon Lemon: Kitchen Basics". Harvest to Table. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Taste of a thousand lemons". Los Angeles Times. September 8, 2004. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
- ^ "New Zealand Citrus". ceventura.ucdavis.edu. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
- –301 (Article XXXII)
- ^ James Lind (1757). A treatise on the scurvy. Second edition. London: A. Millar.
- ^ a b c "Citrus". Royal Horticultural Society. 2017. Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
- ISBN 9781742628417. Archivedfrom the original on March 14, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
Urinating around a lemon tree provides a tonic of water, salt and minerals, much like that of an organic fertiliser [...].
- ISBN 9781760554903. Archivedfrom the original on March 14, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
Yes, it is true - urinating on the soil around a lemon tree is beneficial to the plant. Just don't overdo it, as that can be detrimental.
- ^ The World's Fastest Indian - "Munro was never known to actually urinate on his lemon tree; film director Roger Donaldson added that detail as a tribute to his own father, who did."
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Citrus × limon 'Meyer'". Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Citrus × limon 'Variegata'". Archived from the original on December 30, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Fruit enzymes tenderise meat". Science Learning Hub. Archived from the original on May 23, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ Moskin, Julia. "Preserved Lemons Recipe". NYT Cooking. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- S2CID 195760607.
- ISBN 978-1-4398-0029-4
- ISBN 978-3-642-11458-8.
- PMID 18178322.
- PMID 10962794.
- ^ "Lemon Power". California Energy Commission. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
- ^ Mirsky, Steve (April 20, 2010). "Invisible Ink and More: The Science of Spying in the Revolutionary War". Scientific American. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
- ^ "Here's how to lighten your hair at home with lemon juice (it actually works)". Glamour UK. Bianca London. 2020. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Does lemon juice really lighten hair?". Klorane Laboratories. 2020. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ PMID 26944784.
External links
- Media related to Citrus × limon at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Citrus × limon at Wikispecies
- Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 413–415. (with illustrations) .