Citrus limon
(L.) Burm. f
Lemon
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What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit, Herb, Spice, Flowers
The fruit is eaten raw or cooked and has a very acid flavour. It is mainly used as a drink and as a flavouring, and works well in salad dressings, where it acts as an antioxidant as well as providing acidity. The juice helps set jam. Fruits can grow up to 15cm long and 7cm wide. The dried rind is commonly used to flavour cakes and baked goods. Dried leaves are sometimes blended with tea leaves as a flavouring. An essential oil from the rind is used as a food flavouring. The flowers can be eaten in ice creams, fritters, and jams. Nutritional values per 100g fresh weight (28 calories): Water 90%, Protein 0.8g, Fat 0.5g, Carbohydrate 8.2g, Fibre 0.6g, Ash 5.4g; Calcium 33mg, Phosphorus 15mg, Iron 0.5mg, Sodium 3mg, Potassium 137mg; Vitamin A 12mg, Thiamine (B1) 0.5mg, Riboflavin (B2) 0.02mg, Niacin 0.1mg, Vitamin C 52mg. (Figures are the median of a reported range.)
Where to Find It
A subtropical plant. Trees do not do well on the coast in the tropics but they grow well at about 1300 m and will grow up to 2200 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. They prefer a light to medium, well drained soil. They are drought resistant but most varieties are frost tender. They need a temperature above 3-5°C for growth. They suit warm temperate regions. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.
Africa, Andes, Andorra, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Central Asia, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, East Africa, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Georgia, Ghana, Georgia, Greece, Guam, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India*, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan*, Palau, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Rotuma, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A small evergreen tree with short spines. It grows to 7 m high and spreads to 3 m across. It branches freely. Young branches are often reddish. Leaves are about 5-12 cm long. They are green and drawn out to a point, with notched edges. The leaf stalk is usually not winged. The leaves do not have much of a scent. The flowers are white, with 5 petals and have a strong sweet smell. They are 4-5 cm across. The fruit is oval shaped and with a knob at the end. Fruit can be 7-15 cm long. The skin is fairly thin, rough and light yellow. The flesh is sour and the seeds are oval.
Nutrition Score: 19/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit whole fruit | 83.3 | 65 | 15 | 1.1 | — | 80 | 0.4 | 0.1 |
| Fruit fresh Juice | 91.3 | 31 | 7 | 0.3 | — | 50 | 0.1 | — |
How to Grow
Many trees are seedlings. Better trees are grafted.
Propagation: Sow fresh seed in a greenhouse after thoroughly rinsing. Sow stored seed in March in a greenhouse. Germination usually takes place within 2–3 weeks at 13°C. Seedlings are prone to damping off and must be watered carefully and kept well ventilated. Seed is usually polyembryonic — two or more seedlings arise from each seed, genetically identical to the parent and typically free of any virus present in the parent. Prick out into individual pots when large enough to handle and grow on in the greenhouse for at least three growing seasons before attempting to establish outdoors. Plant out in summer with cold protection for the first few winters. Half-ripe cuttings can be taken in July–August in a frame. Layering in October.
Medicinal Uses
Lemons are an excellent preventative medicine with a wide range of domestic uses. The fruit is rich in vitamin C, which helps fight infection and prevent or treat scurvy — at one time it was a legal requirement that sailors receive an ounce of lemon daily for this purpose. Applied locally, the juice is an effective astringent and gargle for sore throats, and a strong bactericide. It is a good antiperiodic and has been used as a substitute for quinine in treating malaria and other fevers. Though very acid, lemon has an alkalizing effect on the body once consumed, making it useful in treating rheumatic conditions. The skin of ripe fruit is carminative and stomachic. The essential oil from the skin is strongly rubefacient and in small internal doses has stimulating and carminative properties. The stem bark is bitter, stomachic, and tonic. The fruit rind essential oil is used in aromatherapy with the keyword 'Refreshing'. Citrus species are rich in vitamin C, bioflavonoids, acids, and volatile oils. They contain coumarins such as bergapten, which sensitizes the skin to sunlight; bergapten is sometimes added to tanning preparations to promote pigmentation, though it can cause dermatitis or allergic reactions in some people. The bioflavonoids in the fruit strengthen the inner lining of blood vessels, particularly veins and capillaries, and help counter varicose veins and easy bruising.
Other Uses
A semi-drying oil from the seed is used in soap making. An essential oil from the peel — present at around 0.4% — is used as a food flavouring and in perfumery and medicines; a higher-quality essential oil is obtained from the flowers. An essential oil from the leaves and young twigs, called petitgrain oil, is also produced at yields of around 0.4%. The dried fruit rind can be used as an insect repellent in clothes cupboards and in pot-pourri. Lemon juice polishes neglected bronze and other metals, removes ink stains, and acts as a bleaching agent. The wood is attractively veined and takes a beautiful polish.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Evergreen shrub growing 3 m tall by 1 m wide at a medium rate. Hardy to UK zone 9, frost tender. In leaf and flower all year. Hermaphroditic with apomictic and insect pollination; self-fertile. Notable for attracting wildlife. Grows in medium loamy and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Tolerates mildly acidic, neutral, mildly alkaline, and very alkaline soils. Requires full sun and accepts either dry or moist soil conditions.
Other Information
Less common than West Indian limes on the coast in Papua New Guinea but more common in highland areas. It is a cultivated food plant.
Notes
There are 20 Citrus species. Several hybrids have been formed.
Names & Synonyms
Baranebu, Baranibu, Bijapura, Bijapuram, Bijori, Citroen, Demmuda dadaara, Dhoalhanbu, Ennimu, Goranebu, Gulgul, Idalimbu, Jambira, Jambhoshi, Jatti khatti, Jhambheri, Kagati, Kagizi, Khatta nabbu, Kro'ch chma' barang, Lala di ngani, Lebu, Lemun tsami, Limon, Moli karokaro, Moli witiwiti, Mosriri, Motulimbu, Mundino, Nemu, Nibuva, Nimbu, Ningmeng, Osan orombo, Osan wewe, Paharikaghzi, Paharinimbu, Periya yelumichai, Te remon, Than-bayo, Thoralimbu, Tipolo
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