Digital Garden

Citrus limon

Lemon

Scientific Name: Citrus limon

Common Name: Lemon, Neebu

Family- Rutaceae

Habit type- Tree  

Distribution- A tree with evergreen leaves and yellow edible fruits. The top producers – India, Mexico, China, Argentina, Brazil, and Turkey – collectively accounted for 65% of global production.

Leaves : It has evergreen leaves leathery ovoid in shape, the margin serrate with sharp spines in the axils of the stalks.

 Flowers : Flowers are gathered in small clusters or occur individually, growing in leaf axils, it is bisexual flowers are white with a purple tinge at the edges of the petals each flower has five petals. 

Variety :  Lemon varieties fall under two types: true lemon it has few varieties, and hybrid lemon it has many varieties, in general many lemon varieties differ among them in terms of the colour of the fruit, pulp colour, the degree of acidity fruit teats and the number of seeds. These some varieties include the following: 

• Eureka: It is a well-known popular kind of lemon. It is considered a true lemon (without hybrid). Its trees are sensitive to cold and the tree reaches a height of 20 feet that gives a crop throughout the year, the fruits are yellow in colour and the pulp is greenish yellow. 

• Lisbon: True lemon, its production is a little compared to the variety Eureka, cold resistant, the fruits are yellow in colour and rough texture, the pulp pale greenish yellow that contains a small number of seeds and very acidic taste.

• Myer: hybrid variety (lemon & orange mandarin), a wide variety, it is believed to be its origin is China. The trees are cold-resistant, the colour of the fruit is light orange, and the pulp is pale orange-yellow, moderately acid taste with few small seeds. 

• Key Lime: Popular in Malaysia, fruits are green, pale, yellowed, and round, the peel of the fruit contains antibacterial substances and is used in medicines. 

• Calamansi Lime: Widespread in Malaysia, believed to be from China. Fruiting almost all year, but the climax is between August and October, the tree is a small with long roots, and fruits are greenish-yellow in color and ripen after five months of flowering.

Nutritional, cosmetic and medicinal values: Lemons are commonly used to make lemonade, a pleasant drink rich in vitamin C. Fruit may serve as a natural flavor and preservative in a variety of dishes, including salad dressing, sauces, and baked products. It is used to make soft drinks and add acidity to food goods. It can also be used to marinate fish and meat by converting amines into non-volatile compounds. Citric acid partially hydrolyzes stiff collagen strands in beef, making it easier to cook. Ammonium salts help with this process. Lemon juice is a popular addition to pancakes and tea for a pleasant taste. After being sliced, several fruits can oxidize and turn brown due to enzymatic browning. Examples include: Lemon juice can be applied to bananas, apples, and avocados to avoid short-term oxidation. Lemon juice is used to curdle milk for cheese production, as some cheeses only require acidity to curdle. Lemon oil has been used since the 18th century to create 'Eau de Cologne' and essential oils. Currently, lemon Cosmetics are becoming increasingly popular due to their numerous benefits. In Tanzania, a mixture of lemon juice, honey, cucumber, and egg albumin is applied to the skin at night to improve skin texture and treat acne. Lemon fruits include vitamin C and flavonoids, which act as antioxidants and eliminate free radicals from cells. Human bodies are therefore protected from injury. Early explorers recognized the importance of vitamin C for human health and immune system function, and used lemons to prevent or treat scurvy during long voyages. Consuming flavonoid-rich foods can prevent cancer and cardiovascular problems. Lemons can effectively heal gingival bleeding and severe disorders. Furthermore, professionally validated investigations confirm Lemon fruits can help diabetics heal wounds faster.