297 



verse of the book of Leviticus. " Sumetisque vobis die priino 

 fructus arhoris pulcherrimcB (Hadar) spatulasque palmarum, et 

 ramos ligni densarum frondium, et salices de torrente, et laeta- 

 bimini coram Domino Deo vestro." Hence, also, on the old 

 Samaritan coins, Citrons^ attached to a palm, may be observed 

 on one side. Josephus likewise notices this custom as of great 

 antiquity. Thus, on one occasion, when Alexander, the king 

 and high priest, stood at the altar, the people revolted, and 

 threw at him the Citrons they bore in their hands. 



It is probable, however, that no particular fruit was alluded 

 to, and that it was not till the days of Solomon, when their 

 intercourse with distant countries became extensive, that the 

 Citron was made known to the Jews. As for the Greeks, they 

 seem to have been acquainted with it at an early period, as 

 we find a very precise description of it in the writings of 

 Theophrastus. 



The Citron is used only in confections. It contains but 

 little pulp, and the juice is less acid than that of the Lemon. 

 The ri7id is its most valuable part, affording, on expression, 

 a considerable proportion of essential oil. 



2. C. Limonum, (theZemow.) Petioles sub-alate, oblong, nar- 

 rowed towards the apex, remotely crenato -serrate. Stamens 

 30-35. Fruit oblong, with the rind thin, and the pulp very acid. 



Syn. Limoun (of the Arabians) ; C Limon (Miller's Dic- 

 tionary); C. Limon (Linnaeus, Sp. PI.) 



This is a tree, rather taller than the Citron; seldom, 

 however,- exceeding 10-12 feet in height. In growth it is very 

 irregular. The branches spring from near the bottom of the 

 stem, are rather long, and angular towards their extremities, 

 which, when young, have a violet tinge. Spines long, axillary, 

 patent. Leaves oblong, at the base rounded, narrower to- 

 wards the apex, remotely crenato-serrate, smooth, yellowish 

 o-reen, witli o-reen dots. Petiole rather more than half an inch 

 in length, subulate. Flowers axillary, solitary, or in a raceme, 

 from 2-6-flowered. Peduncle rather shorter than the petiole. 

 Pedicels with the green portion very short, a bractea beneath 



