Buddha's hand

From Wikipedia, the miễn phí encyclopedia

Fingered citron

Buddha's hand fruit, "open hand" appearance when ripe
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Rutaceae
Genus:	Citrus
Species:	C. medica
Variety:	**C. m. var. sarcodactylis**
Trinomial name
**Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis** (Siebold ex Hoola khẩn khoản Nooten) Swingle

Buddha's hand

Chinese name

Chinese

佛手柑

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	fóshǒugān

Vietnamese name

Vietnamese

quả phật thủ

Korean name

Hangul

불수감

Hanja

佛手柑

Transcriptions
Revised Romanization	bulsugam

Japanese name

Kanji

仏手柑

Transcriptions
Romanization	busshukan

Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis, or the fingered citron, is an unusually-shaped citron variety whose fruit is segmented into finger-like sections, resembling those seen on representations of the Buddha. It is called Buddha's hand in many languages including English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and French.

The different cultivars and variations of this citron variety size a gradient from "open-hand" types with outward-splayed segments to tướng "closed-hand" types, in which the fingers are kept together. There are also half-fingered fruits, in which the basal side is united and the apical side fingered. The origin of this kind of citron is commonly traced back to tướng South or East Asia, probably northeastern India or Trung Quốc, where most domesticated citrus fruits originate.^[1]

Description[edit]

Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis^[2] is, lượt thích any other citron variety, a shrub or small tree with long, irregular branches covered in thorns. Its large, oblong leaves are pale green and grow about four to tướng six inches. Its white flowers are tinted purplish from the outside and grow in fragrant clusters. The fruit's fingers contain only the white part of the fruit and sometimes a small amount of acidic pulp, but many of them are completely juiceless and some are seedless.^[3]

The plant is sensitive to tướng frost, as well as intense heat and drought. It grows best in a temperate climate. Trees can be grown from cuttings taken from branches two to tướng four years old. It is very commonly grafted onto sufficient rootstock.

Uses[edit]

Perfumery[edit]

Buddha's hand fruit is very fragrant and is used predominantly in Trung Quốc and nhật bản for perfuming rooms and personal items such as clothing.

Religious[edit]

The fruit may be given as a religious offering in Buddhist temples. According to tướng tradition, Buddha prefers the "fingers" of the fruit to tướng be in a position where they resemble a closed rather phàn nàn open hand, as closed hands symbolize to tướng Buddha the act of prayer. In Trung Quốc, the Buddha's hand fruit is a symbol of happiness, longevity, and good fortune. It is also a traditional temple offering and a New Year's gift.^[4]

Ornamental[edit]

The fingered citron is cultivated as an ornamental tree in gardens and containers on patios and terraces.

Food and medicine[edit]

Unlike other citrus fruits, most varieties of the Buddha's hand fruit contain no pulp or juice. Though esteemed chiefly for its "exquisite size and aroma", the Buddha's hand fruit can also be eaten (often as a zest or flavouring) in desserts, savory dishes, and alcoholic beverages (such as vodka or rice liquor) or candied as a sweet. The sliced, dried peel of immature fruits is also prescribed as a tonic in traditional medicine.^[3]

Gallery[edit]

A fingered citron by Volckamer
Fingered citron by Wellcome Trust
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Huge fruit breaking bearing twig
Semi-fingered and closed
Closed fingers
Side view
A fingered citron
Semi-closed fingers
Semi dwarf fingered citron (green)
With open fingers
Cross section in a Variety etrog citron, and in fingered citron
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