188 
CITRUS MEDICA. 
a mile from Massa, these was a lemon tree which would mature tha^ 
year 14,000 lemons. It exceeded the quantity.* 
The lemon tree is of small growth, f sending off numerous branches 
covered with a greyish bark ; in aj3pearance it so much resembles the 
orange tree that at some little distance they are not easily distinguished. 
The leaves are alternate and somewhat larger than those of the latter, 
slightly indented at the edges, and without those winged appendages 
at the footstalk which constitute the specific character, of the 
orange; their form is nearly elliptical, entire, pointed, and of a; 
shining green colour, from three to four inches long, and two broad; 
the flowers (which continue to bloom most part of the summer) are 
large, simple, and stand on branched peduncles; the calyx is saucer- 
shaped, and divided into five pointed segments^ the corolla is com- 
posed of five oblong concave petals, which are white on the inner 
side, and of a purplish tint on the outer; the stamens are about 
twenty ; the filaments are united at their base into three or four 
distinct portions ; the anthers are yellow, and placed vertically upoi) 
the top of the filaments; the germen is roundish and superior;, the 
style is cylindrical, and terminated by a globular stigma; the fruit 
is an ovate berry, with a prominent apex, externally rough, punc- 
tured, and of a pale yellow colour; internally divided into seven or 
nine cells, filled with a mucilaginous extremely acid pulp, each cell 
containing from two to four seeds ; the rind is double ; the exterior 
part thin, and chiefly made up of a great number of vesicles filled 
with a very fragrant oil ; the interior is thicker and whiter than the 
former, and coriaceous. 
Sensible Properties, &c. The exterior rind of the lemon 
is a grateful aromatic bitter; it is less hot than orange peel; its 
aromatic flavour and smell is derived from a volatile essential oil, a 
small qwautity of which it yields in distillation with water ; this oil 
is considerably acrid, and when the fruit is fresh, will often blister 
the mouth and skin by simply pressing it out of the rind upon the 
parts ; this oil is extremely light, almost colourless, and in smell 
nearly as agreeable as the fresh peel ; it is frequently used as a per- 
fume, and is generally brought to us from the South of Europe, 
under the name of essence of lemon. The flavour of the lemon peel 
is more perishable than that of the orange, but does not rise so 
* Lander's Conversations, vol. i.p. 122. 
+ In tliis coantry it seldom rises higher than from five to ten feet, but in the South of 
Europe it attains the height of fifteen, or even more. 
