AURANTIACEjE. 167 



nervous disorders, and are said to have proved beneficial in epilepsy and 

 chorea. They are aromatic, and feebly bitter ; and contain a fragrant 

 volatile oil, which is procured on distillation, principally employed by per- 

 fumers. The flowers are much more celebrated as remedial agents, in sub- 

 stance, but more especially in their distilled water. Orange flower water, as it 

 is termed, has a very agreeable odour, but less powerful than that of the flowers 

 themselves, and is in general use in Europe as an antispasmodic, and is 

 considered to possess much power ; its use in this country is limited, but is 

 becoming more extended ; although not endowed with the active qualities 

 ascribed to it, it forms a very pleasant drink to the sick, and exercises a 

 soothing influence when the nervous system is unduly excited. An essential 

 oil is also obtained from the flowers, known as oil of Neroli, much used 

 as a perfume, and in the manufacture of Cologne and other scented waters 

 for the toilet. 



2. C. vulgaris, Risso. — Leaves elliptical, acuminate, slightly dentate. Petioles more 

 or less winged. Flowers large. Fruit orange-coloured, roundish, somewhat elongate or 

 depressed. Pulp acid and bitter. 



Risso, Ann. Mus. xx. 190 ; De Candolle, Prod. i. 539; C. aurantium, 

 Bot. Reg. 346; Stephenson and Churchill, i. 14; C. bigaradia, Duhamel, 

 Arv. vii. 99; Lindley, Flor. Med. 163. 



Common Names. — Bitter Orange, Seville Orange. 



Foreign Names. — Bigarade, Oranger sauvage, Fr. ; Arancia forte, It. 



Description. — This species closely resembles the sweet orange, and is only distin- 

 guished by the form of the fruit and bitterness of the pulp ; the fruit is much more irre- 

 gular in its shape, and has a much more rugose rind than the other. There are a great 

 number of varieties, among which the most striking is a dwarf known under the name 

 of Malta orange. 



This species is cultivated in Europe and America, but from the bitterness 

 of the fruit it is not eaten. The leaves, flowers, &c, are used for the same 

 purposes as those of the sweet kind, but the volatile oils are said to be of a 

 finer quality. The rind is the officinal Cortex Aurantii of the Pharmacopoeias, 

 though that of the C.aurantium is generally substituted for it in our shops. 



3. C. medica, Risso. — Petioles naked. Leaves oblong, acute. Stamens 40. Styles 

 often wanting. Fruit oblong, rugose, with a thick rind and acid pulp. 



Common Name. — Citron. 



Foreign Names. — Citronnier, Fr. ; Cedro magno, It. 



Description. — A medium-sized tree, branches reddish or violet colour when young. The 

 leaves are oblong, acute and subserrate, borne on naked petioles. The flowers are large and 

 have from five to eight petals, which are purplish externally; the stamens are forty, polya- 

 delphous ; the styles are frequently abortive or wanting. The fruit is large, somewhat 

 of a violet tint when young, and of a rich yellow when mature, the rind is adherent to 

 the pulp, and of an agreeable odour. 



This species has generally been confounded with the lemon, but is distinct 

 from it in many respects, though it certainly approaches it very closely ; the 

 chief differences are the naked petiole, the greater number of stamens and 

 the great thickness of the rind of the fruit. Like the other species, it was 

 originally a native of Asia, but is now cultivated in all warm climates. The 

 citron was known to the Hebrews, and is generally supposed to be meant in 

 texts where, in our translation, the word apple is used (Cant., ii. 7 ; Joel, i.), 

 and Risso states that they are still used by the Jews at the feast of the taber- 

 nacles. Pliny speaks of it in his 13th book, chapter 3, thus quaintly trans- 

 lated by Holland : " I will begin with that, which of all others, is the most 

 wholesome, the citron tree, called also the Assyrian tree, and by some the 





