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Fingered citron | |
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Buddha's hand fruit, "open hand" appearance when ripe | |
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Variety: | C. m. var. sarcodactylis |
Trinomial name | |
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis (Hoola van Nooten) Swingle |
Citron varieties |
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Acidic-pulp varieties |
Non-acidic varieties |
Pulpless varieties |
Citron hybrids |
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Buddha's hand | |||||||
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Chinese name | |||||||
Chinese | 佛手柑 | ||||||
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Vietnamese name | |||||||
Vietnamese | quảphật thủ | ||||||
Korean name | |||||||
Hangul | 불수감 | ||||||
Hanja | 佛手柑 | ||||||
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Japanese name | |||||||
Kanji | 仏手柑 | ||||||
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Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis,or the fingered citron,is a citron variety whose fruit is segmented into finger-like sections,resembling those seen on representations of 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]
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis [2] is,like any other citron variety,a shrub or small tree with long,irregular branches covered in 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.
Buddha's hand fruit is very fragrant and is used predominantly in China and Japan for perfuming rooms and personal items such as clothing.
The fruit may be given as a religious offering in 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]
Whether a Buddha's hand is acceptable for liturgical use as an etrog on Sukkot was addressed in the 19th century 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]
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]
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 zest or flavouring) in desserts,savory dishes,and alcoholic beverages (such as vodka or rice liquor) or candied as a sweet. The sliced,dried peel of immature fruits is also prescribed as a tonic in traditional medicine. [3]
Citrus is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits,including important crops such as oranges,mandarins,lemons,grapefruits,pomelos,and limes.
Etrog is the yellow citron used by Jews during the weeklong holiday of Sukkot as one of the four species. Together with the lulav,hadass,and aravah,the etrog is taken in hand and held or waved during specific portions of the holiday prayers. Special care is often given to selecting an etrog for the performance of the Sukkot holiday rituals.
A lime is a citrus fruit,which is typically round,green in color,3–6 centimetres (1.2–2.4 in) in diameter,and contains acidic juice vesicles.
The citron,historically cedrate,is a large fragrant citrus fruit with a thick rind. It is said to resemble a 'huge,rough lemon'. It is one of the original citrus fruits from which all other citrus types developed through natural hybrid speciation or artificial hybridization. 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.
Citrus ×meyeri,the Meyer lemon,is a hybrid citrus fruit native to China. It is a cross between a citron and a mandarin/pomelo hybrid.
Rangpur,Citrus ×limonia or Citrus reticulata ×medica,sometimes called the rangpur lime,mandarin lime or lemandarin,is a hybrid between the mandarin orange and the citron. It is a citrus fruit with a very acidic taste and an orange peel and flesh.
The ponderosa lemon is a citrus hybrid of a pomelo and a citron. It is not the same as the 'Yuma Ponderosa' lemon-pomelo hybrid used as citrus rootstock.
Citrus australis,the Dooja,round lime,Australian lime or Australian round lime,is a large shrub or small tree producing an edible fruit. It grows in forest margins in the Beenleigh area and northwards,in Queensland,Australia.
The Greek citron variety of Citrus medica was botanically classified by Adolf Engler as the "variety etrog". This refers to its major use for the Jewish ritual etrog during Sukkot.
The Diamante citron is a variety of citron named after the town of Diamante,located in the province of Cosenza,Calabria,on the south-western coast of Italy,which is its most known cultivation point. This is why this variety is sometimes called the "Calabria Esrog". "Esrog" is the Ashkenazi Hebrew name for citron.
The balady citron is a variety of citron,or etrog,grown in Israel and Palestine,mostly for Jewish ritual purposes. Not native to the region,it was imported around 500 or 300 BCE by either Jewish or Greek settlers. Initially not widely grown,it was promoted and popularized in the 1870s by Rabbi Chaim Elozor Wax.
The Florentine citron –citron hybrid of Florence –is a very fragrant citrus fruit,which is named after its most known origin of cultivation. Its scientific name is Citrus ×limonimedica 'Florentina' Lush.
Succade is the candied peel of any of the citrus species,especially from the citron or Citrus medica which is distinct with its extra-thick peel;in addition,the taste of the inner rind of the citron is less bitter than those of the other citrus. However,the term is also occasionally applied to the peel,root,or even entire fruit or vegetable like parsley,fennel and cucurbita which have a bitter taste and are boiled with sugar to get a special "sweet and sour" outcome.
The Yemenite citron is a variety of citron,usually containing no juice vesicles in its fruit's segments. The bearing tree and the mature fruit's size are somewhat larger than the trees and fruit of other varieties of citron.
The Moroccan citron is a true citron variety native to Assads,Morocco,which is still today its main center of cultivation.
The Corsican citron is a citron variety that contains a non-acidic pulp.
The micrantha is a wild citrus from the papeda group,native to southern Philippines,particularly islands of Cebu and Bohol. Two varieties are recognized:small-flowered papeda,locally known as biasong,and small-fruited papeda or samuyao.
The lumia is also called the pear lemon,since its shape resembles a pear. It is also called French lime and sometimes sweet lemon,even though it is not necessarily sweet.
Citrus taxonomy refers to the botanical classification of the species,varieties,cultivars,and graft hybrids within the genus Citrus and related genera,found in cultivation and in the wild.
Pompia,also called pumpia,sa pompia,spompia,and China citron,is a Citrus hybrid cultivated for its edible fruit. It is a taxonomical synonym of Citrus medica.