Citrus Medica

The citron, found wild in the forests of northern

India. The Jews cultivated the citron at the time they were under

subjection to the Romans, and used the fruit in the Feast of the

Tabernacles. There is no proof of their having known the fruit in

the time of Moses, but it is supposed that they found it at

Babylon, and brought it into Palestine. The citron is cultivated

in China and Cochin-China. It is easily naturalized and the seeds

are rapidly spread. In its wild state it grows erect; the branches

are spiny, the flowers purple on the outside and white on the

inside. The fruit furnishes the essential oil of citron and the

essential oil of cedra. There are several varieties; the fingered

citron is a curious fruit, and the Madras citron is very long and

narrow; the skin is covered with protuberances.