104. CITRUS LIMONUM LEMON. 27 



104- CITRUS LIMONUM, L. 



LEMOX. 



Ger., Limonenbaum ; Fr., C 'itro tinier ; Sp., Litnon. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS : Leaves quite like those of the Orange, but with petioles 

 slightly, if at all, winged. Flowers often with pinkish tinge on outer surface and 

 with more numerous stamens, about 35. Fruit oblong-spheroidal, mammillate at the 

 extremity, with light yellow rind and very acid tart pulp. 



(Limonum is from the Arabic name of the tree, laimun.) 



A very handsome evergreen, quite like the Orange in appearance, or 

 rather more shrubby in habit of growth and not attaining so great a size. 



HABITAT. The Lemon, as the Orange, is supposed to have come 

 originally from tropical Asia, and is now found in a wild state in northern 

 India. It is very extensively introduced into tropical and subtropical 

 regions throughout the world and has become naturalized in places. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood heavy, hard, strong, very close-grained 

 and susceptible of a very smooth polish. It is of a clear light lemon- 

 yellow color, little difference being discernible between the heart and the 

 sap-woods. 



USES. The importance of the acid and peculiarly agreeable fruit of 

 this tree is known everywhere. The Oil of Lemon is an essential oil 

 obtained by expression or distillation from the peel and is valuable as a 

 flavoring agent. The Lemon tree is likewise of highest ornamental 

 value though not grown purely for that purpose as is the Bitter Orange 

 sometimes. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. The rind of the lemon is sometimes used to 

 qualify the taste and increase the power of stomachic infusions and tinc- 

 tures. The juice is refrigerent, and, properly diluted, forms a refresh- 

 ing and agreeable beverage in febrile and inflammatory affections. It 

 may be given with sweetened water in the shape of lemonade, or may be 

 added to the mildly nutritive drinks, such as gum-water, barley-water, 

 etc., usually administered in fevers. One of the most beneficial appli- 

 cations of lemon juice is to the prevention and cure of scurvy, for 

 which it may be considered almost a specific. Such is the importance of 

 taking lemons on long voyages at sea, for the prevention of scurvy, that 

 in England every foreign-going ship is required by law to take such a 

 supply of lemon juice that every seaman should have a daily allowance 

 of an ounce, after having been ten days at sea. It has been used with 

 benefit as a local application in sunburn, etc., and as a gargle in diph- 

 theretic sore throat.* 



*U. S. Dispensatory, 16th ed., p. 876. 



