Lemon
Synonyms: Citrus medica. Citrus Limonum
Scientific Name: Citrus limon L.
Family: Rutaceae
Habitat
Native to Eastern and Southern Asia, Persia, Himalayas
Constituents
Vitamin C, citric acid, essential oil, pectin
Description
Everyone knows the yellow, oval fruits of the lemon. You couldn't imagine a kitchen without them today. Botanically speaking, the lemon is a berry with its seeds enclosed in the fleshy pulp. The appearance and taste of this acid citrus fruit have given rise to many a proverb or saying. In our part of the world the lemon tree is only seen in orangeries or botanical gardens. In the warmer climates which the tree needs to thrive it reaches a height of up to fifteen feet. The dark green, leathery leaves have an aromatic scent. The flowers, white on the inside and tinged with deep pink on the outside, cover the tree throughout the year allowing fresh ripe lemons to be harvested three to four times a year.
Interesting Facts
The citrus fruits owe their generic name Citrus to their ability to drive away moths and other pests with their strong smell. The Greek word kedrus was used to designate heavily scented woods that also kept away pests. For example, Arborvitae, Juniper and Cedar (Cedrus). Linguistic usage became blurred and the citrus fruits were left with the name.
More than 4000 years ago citrus fruits such as the lemon were cultivated in China as objects of very high value which were initially reserved for the Emperor and other high-standing officials. Lemon trees were known as golden-headed slaves which brought riches and prestige to their owners. Alexander the Great became acquainted with the lemon, the Golden Apple, during his Asian campaign (334-324 B.C.). However, it was only several hundred years later that the lemon reached our part of the world, probably being brought to Europe by the Arabs in the 10th century.
A special form of the lemon, the Ethrog or Esrog plays a ritual role in the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth) along with palm leaves, myrtle and willow branches. The well-known picture by Marc Chagall Feast Day (Rabbi with Lemon) depicts one of these fruits. The fruit must be bright yellow and without blemish and may only be used if it has the spindle-like shape shown. In order to obtain this shape, which occurs relatively seldom in nature, Esrog growers in Israel have the young fruits grow into special glass receptacles. Every year in September the carefully selected ripe fruits are then picked by hand, packed in hemp and shipped to Jewish communities throughout the world.
The plant from another perspective
The leathery skin of the lemon protects its juicy interior, virtually holding the moisture together and preventing it from flowing away. It demonstrates this art to human beings suffering from allergic diseases such as hay fever who constantly have to contend with a runny nose and tearing eyes. The lemon lends them its formative power.
The plant in our products
Lemon is contained in:
