Citrus Pages / Lemons

Finnish	Lemon and its relatives
	Citrus limon

	History Uses Cultivation Lemon Eureka Pink-fleshed lemon Lisbon lemon Femminello group of lemons Lemonange Lemandarin (Mandarin lemon) Lemonime Rough lemon Yuzu lemon Limetta (Mediterranean sweet lemon) Millsweet limetta Pear lemon (French lime) Adam's apple Meyer lemon Ponderosa lemon Volkamer lemon
Volkamer lemon, Citrus volkameriana © C. Jacquemond / INRA

History

The origin of the lemon is unknown. Some think it originated in north-western India, others think it came from India's north-eastern parts. It is reported to have grown in southern Italy in the third century A.D. and in Iraq and Egypt after 700 A.D. The first reliable information is from Sicily where it is known to have grown around 1000 A.D. The Arab conquerors took the lemon with them around the Mediterranean basin all the way to Southern Spain where we know it has been cultivated since 1150 A.D. We know that the Chinese were growing lemon in 1297 when Marco Polo arrived. Lemon was among the first new fruits to arrive to the New World on Christopher Columbus' second voyage in 1493. He brought lemon seeds to the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic). The lemon slowly spread to other islands and the continent. Large-scale commercial cultivation of lemon began in Florida and California in the early days of the 19th century. In Europe the island of Sicily and other parts of southern Italy have exported lemons for several centuries.

Uses

Lemons are not eaten fresh, but they can be found on every table around the Mediterranean irrespective of whether meat, fish or poultry will be served. The juice of lemon is squeezed to flavour all grilled or fried food. The acids in the juice have been found to slow the growth of unwanted microbes that easily develop in food left to stay warm too long. In cooking it is the zest of the fruit that is wanted. The thinly peeled or grated rind of lemon has its own flavour that is highly prized in cooking and baking. The juice is used in lemonades and as a mixer in alcoholic beverages. The pulp left over after commercial juice extraction is an important source of citrus oil, pectin and citric acid. These are used by the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.

Citrus limon 'Lemonime' © C. Jacquemond / INRA

Cultivation

Lemon is a very demanding plant to grow, totally intolerant of frost. The fruit and flowers are destroyed already at minus 1-2 C degrees. Nor does it do well in extreme heat. It thrives in areas which are too cool for oranges and grapefruit. The lemon belt is a narrow area on the cooler side of orange growing districts in both the northern and southern hemispheres. In best conditions the lemon tree produces flowers and fruit almost around the year. The immature fruit is green and during the cool nights of autumn and winter the colour slowly turns yellow. The harvests can be controlled by regulating the irrigation. The main harvesting period is winter and new flowering starts in spring. In dry areas the trees can be left to dry in the summer for 6 - 8 weeks until they look shrivelled and sickly. When they are then watered and fertilized heavily a new flowering appears in August - September. The fruit of this flowering will mature in the following summer when lemons are in short supply. The length of the harvest period can be prolonged in this way to increase productivity. In Italy some trees produce four crops a year (see Femminello). Lemons suffer less from diseases than other citrus types and the picked fruit are not easily damaged by transportation or storage.

The biggest lemon producers are Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, South-Africa and Australia. In countries with warmer climates lemons can be grown at altitudes of 800 - 1200 meters, where nights are cool but without frost.


LAT	Citrus limon (L.) Burm.f.
Syn	Citrus × limon (L.) Osbeck Citrus medica L. var. limon L. Citrus limonum Risso Citrus limonum vulgaris Risso & Poit. Cultivated varieties not listed below include: 'Berna' and 'Ovale'
	One of the first hybrids of the four original citrus types (see: Introduction, The genus Citrus) lemon early established itself as a new species (see: History, above). Because of its parentage the lemon was long classified as a subspecies of the citron (Citrus medica ssp. limon) before it obtained its present status. Similarly, it should not to be confused with the variant Citrus medica var. limonum > Citrus limonia, the mandarin lime or Canton lime.
ENG	Lemon
FRA	Citron
GER	Zitrone
I TA	Limone
ESP	Limón, Limón real
Photos		© Thomas Schoepke © C. Jacquemond / INRA © UC-Riverside Citrus Variety Collection


LAT	Citrus limon ‘Eureka’

	Eureka was born from young Italian lemon plants that were introduced to California in 1850. The oblong shaped fruit are born throughout the season. The main harvest matures in late winter, early spring. The flowers are tinged with pink.
ENG	Eureka lemon, Italian lemon, American lemon
FRA	Citron Eureka
Photo		© UCR Citrus Variety Collection © Aggie Horticulture TAMU


LAT	Citrus limon var. variegata
Syn	Citrus limon ’Eureka’ var. variegata
	The variegated lemon is a Eureka variant that appeared in a private garden in Burbank, California in 1931. The flesh and juice are pink. The juice is used in mixed drinks. The leaves and peel of the fruit are bi-coloured. The variegated lemon is an attractive ornamental plant with the bonus of edible fruit.
ENG	Pink-fleshed lemon, Variegated lemon
FRA	Citron panaché
Photo		© UC-Riverside Citrus Variety Collection


LAT	Citrus limon ’Lisbon’

	Lisbon lemon comes, as its name says, from Portugal. The fruit have a strong yellow colour, a clearly defined pointed tip, greenish flesh and very acid juice.
ENG	Lisbon lemon, Portuguese lemon
FRA	Citron Lisbon
Photo		© Trade Winds Fruit


LAT	Citrus limon ’Femminello’

	The Femminello group of lemons is the most important lemon variety of Italy. Femminello is a medium sized tree with few or no thorns. In suitable conditions it flowers almost around the year. In Italy Femminello trees are regulated by irrigation and fertilization to produce four crops per year. The harvests and their fruit have different names: Primofiore is the name of the autumn crop and Limoni are the fruit of winter and early spring. Bianchetti are the spring crop and Verdelli the summer crop. As the names Bianchetti and Verdelli imply the spring and summer crops do not have the strong yellow colour of winter fruit as the nights are less cold. The Femminello fruit are oblong in form with a pointed tip and few or no seeds. The flesh is greenish, very juicy and acid.
ENG	Femminello lemon
FRA	Citron Femminello
Photos		© UC-Riverside Citrus Variety Collection


LAT	Citrus limon ’Lemonange’
Syn	Citrus limon x Citrus sinensis
	A hybrid of lemon and orange, see Meyer lemon below.
ENG	Lemonange
FRA	Lemonange
Photo	The picture is of Improved Meyer Lemon, UCR, also an orange lemon hybrid.	© UC-Riverside Citrus Variety Collection


LAT	Citrus limon ’Lemandarin’	Citrus limonia 'Kona lime'
Syn	Citrus limonelloides Hayata Citrus limonia Osbeck , Citrus taitensis Risso Citrus limon x Citrus reticulata
	Lemandarin or the Mandarin lemon belongs to a group of several closely related types of citrus trees. All are crosses of lemon and mandarin. They resemble the mandarin in appearance but taste more like limes. The mandarin lemon has three well-known varieties Rangpur, Otaheite and Kusiae. They are discussed in limes as >> Mandarin lime.
ENG	Lemandarin
FRA	Lemandarine
I TA	Lemandarina
Photos	The mandarin lime in the pictures is a Hawaiian variety called 'Kona lime'	© Ken Love / Hawaiifruit.net


LAT	Citrus limon ’Lemonime’
Syn	Citrus limon x Citrus aurantiifolia
	A cross of lemon and lime
ENG	Lemonime, Lemon lime, Chinese lemon
FRA	Lemonime, Lemon lime, Chinese lemon
I TA	Limonima, limonetta
Photo		© C. Jacquemond / INRA


LAT	Citrus jambhiri Lush.
	Cultivated varieties: ’Estes’ and ’Milan’
	A recent study using molecular markers has shown Rough lemon to be a cross of mandarin and citron. It is believed to have originated in northern India, where it grows wild; carried in 1498 or later by Portuguese explorers to southeastern Africa where it became naturalized; soon taken to Europe, and brought by Spaniards to the New World. It is naturalized in the West Indies and Florida. Fruit oblate, rounded or oval, base flat to distinctly necked, apex rounded with a more or less sunken nipple; of medium size, averaging 2 3/4 in,(7 cm) wide, 2 1/2 (6.25 cm) high; peel lemon-yellow to orange-yellow, rough and irregular, with large oil glands. Reproduces true from seeds. Tree is large, very thorny; new growth slightly tinged with red; buds and flowers with red-purple. The scant pulp and juice limit the rough lemon to home use. It is appreciated as a dooryard fruit tree in Hawaii and in other tropical and subtropical areas where better lemons are not available.
ENG	Rough lemon, Florida Rough, Jamberi, Citronelle
FRA	Citron verruqueux, Rough lemon
GER	Rauhschalige Zitrone
I TA	Rugoso
SPA	Limón rugoso
Photo		© CINHP / G.McCormack, with permission © C. Jacquemond / INRA


LAT	Citrus junos Siebold ex Tanaka
Syn	Citrus ichangensis x Citrus reticulata var. austera Swingle
	Yuzu lemon was earlier classified as a valid species Citrus junos but research has shown it to be a cross of Ichang papeda and Sour mandarin. The fragrant yuzu lemon orginates from China, but is mostly grown in Japan where both the juice and the grated rind are used in traditional Japanese cooking. The aroma is pungent and the dried peel is used as a spice. The fruit is used in a ritualistic New Year ceremony to ensure good health. Wikipedia has a good article on Yuzy lemon describing its uses in Japanese and Korean cuisines.
ENG	Yuzu lemon
FRA	Citron yuzu
Photos		© Laaz


LAT	Citrus limetta Risso

	Limetta, the sweet lemon of the Mediterranean basin. The French name Mamelon means nipple and refers to the shape of the fruit. Limetta is often classified as a lime and called Italian lime or Mediterranean lime.
ENG	Sweet limetta, Mediterranean sweet lemon Sweet lemon, Sweet lime, Italian lime
FRA	Limette à mamelon, Limette d’Italie, Limon doux
GER	Echte Limette, Süsse Limette, Süsse Zitrone
I TA	Limetta
ESP	Limón dulce
Photo		© Home Citrus Growers


LAT	Citrus limetta Risso 'Millsweet'

	The Millsweet limetta comes originally from the Mediterranean region. It came through Mexico to the US where it was named Millsweet in 1943. The fruit is low in acidity giving the juice a sweet taste. The Millsweet flowers and produces fruit throughout the year but the main flowering season is in the spring. Often classified as a lime.
ENG	Millsweet limetta
FRA	Limette millsweet
I TA	Limetta millsweet
ESP	Limón dulce millsweet
Photos		© UC-Riverside Citrus Variety Collection


LAT	Citrus lumia Risso & Poit.
Syn	Citrus limon var. lumia Swingle Citrus medica L. var. lumia
	The Pear lemon (Citrus lumia) is often confused with Indian lime (Citrus limonelloides) or other sweet limes. Also called French lime and Sweet lemon it is a tree found in Mediterranean countries. The fruit resembles a pear in shape, has a thick peel and is not very juicy. It can grow to a formidable size; the fruit in the picture is 18 cm (7 in) long as the ruler shows. A group of scientists working in the University of Catania, Italy has shown by studying its chromosomes that the Pear lemon (and its cousin Adam's apple below) was first a hybrid of pomelo and citron, which then hybridized with lemon. Pear lemon is sometimes classified as a citron hybrid.
ENG	Pear lemon, French lime, Sweet lemon
FRA	Lumie, Poire du commandeur
GER	Birnenlimone, Süsse Limone, Komturbirne
I TA	Lumia, Pero del Commendatore
Photo		© Home Citrus Growers


LAT	Citrus lumia Risso & Poit var. pomum adami
Syn	Citrus aurata Risso Citrus lumia 'Pomum d'Adamum' Citrus medica L. var. pomum adami
	Marco Polo first saw the Adam's apple in Persia (present-day Iran). The Arabs presumably brought it with them to the Near East. The French crusaders discovered it in Palestine on the seventh crusade in 1250 and named it Adam's apple. It is also know as Adam and as Apple of Paradise. A group of scientists working in the University of Catania, Italy has shown by studying its chromosomes that the Adam's apple (and its cousin Pear lemon above) was first a hybrid of pomelo and citron, which then hybridized with lemon. Adam's apple is sometimes classified as a citron hybrid.
ENG	Adam's apple
FRA	Pomme d'Adam, Pomme du paradis.
GER	Adamsapfel
I TA	Pomo d'Adamo
Photo		© Home Citrus Growers


LAT	Citrus meyerii Yu Tanaka
Syn	Citrus limon x Citrus sinensis Citrus x meyerii
	Meyer Lemon is a small to medium size orange yellow skinned citrus with a lemon like flesh that is juicy, but considerably less acidic and much sweeter than common lemons. Discovered growing as a dooryard tree in Beijing, China in 1908 by USDA plant explorer Frank Meyer. Its history prior to that is unknown. Its parentage is unknown, but it is considered either an orange-lemon or a mandarin-lemon hybrid. The flesh, juice and taste are "pinkish". The intensity of the red colour depends on climate and soil. Fruits are eaten raw, used in making juices, desserts, and for flavoring. The Meyer lemon has become very popular in recent years for its unique lemon-like flavor, without the acidic sourness. Small tree, generally only to 6-12ft. Its small size makes it a popular container plant indoors in temperate climates. The Meyer lemon can be found in many gardens throughout the southern US and in Australia. The tree produces flowers and fruit almost all year round, the main harvesting period being December- April. Fairly cold hardy, surviving temperatures into the high 20's ( -3 C). The Meyer lemon grows well in standard citrus producing climates, but also grows in cooler areas, and areas that receive brief freezes.
ENG	Meyer lemon, Grant lemon
FRA	Citron Meyer
GER	Meyer Zitrone
Photo		(1,4) © Trade Winds Fruit (2) © Petr Broža (3) © C. Jacquemond / INRA


LAT	Citrus pyriformis Hassk.
Syn	Citrus limon Burm.f. var. pyriformis Citrus limon ‘Ponderosa’ Citrus limon ‘American Wonder’ Citrus limon x Citrus medica
	The Ponderosa lemon is another pear-shaped lemon. Its leaves and the thick peel tell us that it is a lemon-citron hybrid. The Ponderosa lemon is often classified as a citron hybrid. The large leaves, thick foliage, large showy fruit, low growing habit and good tolerance of pruning and cutting all make it a popular ornamental tree in California and Florida. Also known as 'American Wonder'.
ENG	Ponderosa lemon
FRA	Citron Ponderosa
Photos		© Aggie Horticulture TAMU © UCR Citrus Variety Collection


LAT	Citrus volkameriana V.Ten. & Pasq.
Syn	Citrus limonia Osbeck ' Volkameriana' Citrus x limonia
	The Volkamer lemon has been known for three centuries. It was first thought of as a cross of lemon and sour orange. More recently it has been described as a variant of mandarin lime. Slightly smaller than lemon trees, it flowers and bears fruit profusely. This and the attractively dense foliage make it an excellent ornamental tree. The fruit are lemon-shaped, wide and with a rough, bright reddish rind. The flesh and juice are yellow-reddish colour. The fruit has few or no seeds, tastes slightly bitter and has a pleasantly fresh taste and aroma. It can be used in cooking instead of lemon. The Volkamer lemon is used as rootstock for other citrus types because of its resistance to many diseases.
ENG	Volkamer lemon
FRA	Citron de Volkamer
Photo		© C. Jacquemond / INRA
Link	Fruits of Warm Climates