Hand of the Buddha - useful properties and contraindications of finger citron.  Fingers (or hand) of the Buddha - an amazing plant that drives away evil spirits

Unique appearance, indisputable usefulness, interesting properties - one of the few advantages of a plant called citron finger. Its second name is Buddha Hand citrus. Exotic culture is easy to grow on the windowsill to decorate the room. And its fruits can be used for treatment and cooking.

Description of citron finger

The citron belongs to the Rutaceae family. The plant itself is evergreen, can take the form of a tree or shrub up to 4 m in height. The leaves of the plant are large, oily, pale green. It blooms in spring from April to May, the shade of single flowers varies from white to deep purple.

The Hand of the Buddha bears fruit in autumn. The fruits can be up to 40 cm long and look like a cross between a banana and a lemon. They have a pleasant, citrus-floral aroma. Slightly bitter in taste. The average fruit weight is about 400 g, the thickness of the skin is up to 5 cm.

There may be confusion about the value of this plant - a significant part of the weight is occupied by the peel, only seeds are inside, and the pulp is almost absent. But the skin contains the most valuable and useful substances.

The second name of the citron is explained by the shape of the plant - it resembles the fingers of a hand. The plant began its distribution from the East, the first mention of citron was recorded in India. These factors are the reason for the appearance of the name Buddha Hand.

Growing features

The finger citron is found in regions with a tropical climate, but it can also be grown at home. Growing the plant is not much different from keeping ordinary citrus fruits. Even soil or substrate designed for any citrus fruit will do.

The plant needs to provide quality drainage system. There are three ways to grow fruit:

• from seeds;
• cuttings;
• using seedlings.

The first fruits can be seen 3 years after planting. An exception is the method of growing from seeds - in this case, the fruits will appear only 7-8 years after sowing.

A place for a plant should be chosen darkened, excluding direct sunlight, but warm. In summer, it is better to take out a pot with a plant on a balcony or put it by an open window, not forgetting the inadmissibility of sunlight on leaves and flowers.

Proper plant care

The process of caring for citron at home does not take much time. But there are several important principles and growing conditions:

1. Support temperature regime. Citron should not be placed in a room where the temperature drops below +15°C.
2. Compliance with the level of humidity. To do this, you need to spray the leaves of the plant daily and monitor the soil moisture regime. The hand of the Buddha demands abundant and frequent watering settled water without impurities.
3. Artificial establishment of a dormant period for a plant. At this time, you need to lower the temperature a little environment and moderate watering.
4. From the beginning of spring to the end of autumn, the fruit needs complex fertilizer with phosphate and nitrogen-potassium solutions 3 times a month.

Application of citron

Citron finger is widely used in cooking and medicine. In Russia, the plant is not very common, and it is used less frequently than lemon or other citrus fruits. But citron is able to give the dish a subtle, unusual flavor and help in the fight against certain diseases. Another way to use is to aromatize the room with fruit.

In medecine beneficial features citrus Buddha's hand is used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, hypertension and viral infections. Citron brings an analgesic effect, is good for immunity, normalizes the menstrual cycle and removes the symptoms of inflammation. The use of pure fruits, citron-based ointments, various drinks and solutions is practiced.

Chefs use finger citron to prepare dried fruits, candied fruits, jams, and add them to dessert dishes. The fruits are found in salads, they are added to seafood and pastry dishes. The fruit is also used to give dishes a refined flavor. Tea with the addition of zest is widely known for its delicate taste and beneficial effect. Citron pulp is rarely used, it is added to sauces and first courses.

Masks, creams and lotions with the addition of fruit zest have earned excellent reviews and are gaining popularity among lovers of home cosmetics.

Contraindications

The Buddha hand citron suits almost everyone. The main reason for refusing to use is individual intolerance to citrus and hypersensitivity.

With caution, it should be taken by those who suffer from hypotension and have recently suffered from dysentery. Before using the fruit as a remedy, it is important to consult with your doctor.

Sin .: Buddha's hand, Buddha's fingers, bushukon, fo shu, five-fingered mandarin, som-mu.

Evergreen shrub or small tree 3-4 meters high with long spreading branches, leathery dark green leaves, fragrant flowers and yellow fruits unusual shape, which resembles a human hand with curved different sides or fingers held together. The plant has anti-inflammatory, expectorant, tonic properties, strengthens the immune system and is a valuable source of vitamin C.

Ask the experts

In medicine

Citron fingeris is not a pharmacopoeial plant and is not used by domestic official medicine. However, it is widely used in traditional medical practices in Asian countries: in Western India, China, Japan and Malaysia.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the dried fruit of the plant, known as "fo shou" ("foshou"), is used as an expectorant and tonic by Chinese healers. The dried flowers are known in Chinese medicine as "fo shoa" ("foshouhua"), they are used to make an appetite stimulant tincture and as an effective remedy for nausea.

The fruits of citron finger are a source of ascorbic acid and can be used in medical and dietary nutrition to prevent and prevent beriberi.

Contraindications and side effects

A contraindication to the use of citron finger is individual intolerance, childhood the presence of an allergic reaction. Before consuming the fruit of the hand of the Buddha, you should consult a specialist, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

In cooking

Raw fruits of the citron finger are not very suitable for eating, but in dried or candied form they can be used in cooking. The fragrant peel of the fruit, together with the zest, is great for making candied fruits, jams, refreshing lemonades and desserts. Sometimes the pulp of the fruit is added to vegetable and fruit salads, or used as a seasoning for fish and seafood. In Japan, the fruit of the finger citron, known under the name "bushukan" ("bushukan"), is used in cooking to decorate festive dishes. Also, an alcoholic drink similar to the Italian Limoncello liqueur is made from the fruits of the citron finger. The zest of the Buddha's hand can be used in the same way as the zest of lemon, orange, bergamot. It is put for flavor in pastries, confectionery and tea.

In cosmetology

The fruit acids contained in the fruits of the citron finger are used for the peeling procedure: they give the face freshness and reduce freckles. Cosmetologists use citron essential oil in products designed to care for problem skin, as it exhibits active bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties, makes the skin supple.

Citron finger extract is included in various shampoos, balms, masks for weakened and dull hair. Decoctions and water infusions prepared from the fruits and flowers of the fruits of the hand of the Buddha have a tonic effect on the scalp and hair follicles.

In other areas

In crop production

In China and Japan, the plant is cultivated for its fruits and as a garden or pot plant. ornamental plant used for planting on terraces and during patios. In our country, the plant is quite popular with experienced flower growers specializing in growing colorful exotics at home.

Experts assure that caring for the hand of the Buddha is no more difficult than caring for other indoor citrus fruits, such as kumquats or lemons. However, the finger citron is the most thermophilic of all citrus fruits. It can die even with a short exposure to sub-zero temperatures. But in the apartment on the windowsill in winter time feels quite good, and with proper care even bears fruit.

The citron can be grown from seedlings, cuttings, or seeds. Growers advise sowing seeds in March in a special substrate for citrus fruits. They should come up in three weeks. For further growth and development, they need to provide a warm place without drafts and direct sunlight. The sun's rays depress the plant and do not allow it to develop normally.

On the farm

Very fragrant fruits are used for aromatization of premises, clothes, products from genuine leather. The dried and powdered citron peels are used as a natural moth repellant.

In other areas

In Asia (especially India), the plant is planted near Buddhist temples, and its fruits are used as offerings to the deity and to decorate shrines. According to legend, the Buddha prefers fruits whose “fingers” are not in an open, but in a closed position, like a hand during prayer.

Classification

Citron finger (Citrus medica ‘Fingered’) is a hybrid plant species of the Citrus genus (Citrus) of the Rutaceae family.

Botanical description

Citron palmate is an evergreen shrub or small tree, 3-4 meters tall, with long spreading branches covered with rare thorns. The leaves are alternate, on short petioles. 8-15 cm long, 3.5-6.5 cm wide. Leaf blades are large, leathery, pale green in color, with oily glands, oblong, elliptical, obovate-oblong or oval, with blunt tips, or even concave. The flowers of the citron are fragrant, solitary, the petals are 5 white to purple or light purple. There are more than 30 stamens. The plant blooms from April to May, bears fruit from October to December. The fruits of the citron digitata have a thick rind and little flesh, often pitted or with few underdeveloped pits. In cultivation, the plant reproduces vegetatively. The pulp of the fruit usually has a bitter-sour taste and a strong citrus aroma.

Spreading

The finger citron grows in tropical and subtropical regions of East Asia: in northeastern India, in the southern provinces of China, and on the Japanese islands. Herbal raw materials for medical purposes mainly come from such provinces of China as Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and Guangdong.

Procurement of raw materials

For medicinal and food purposes, flowers and fruits of the citron are harvested, as well as their peel rich in essential oil. For medicinal purposes, the hand of the Buddha is harvested in autumn, when the fruits begin to turn yellow. After harvesting, ripe fruits are washed with cold running water and cut with a sharp knife into plates that are dried naturally in the sun. The citron flowers are picked by hand, laid out on sheets of paper or a clean cloth and dried in the open air. After the drying process, the flowers and fruits of the fingers of the Buddha are poured into glassware or into thick paper bags and stored for 1 year.

Chemical composition

The edible part of the pulp of the citron finger contains 11.3-18.2% of solids, up to 2.5% of sugars, up to 5% citric acid, 0.6-3.2% protein, 0.1% fat, 1.4% fiber, 0.4-1.5% ash. Mineral composition fruits are represented by calcium (34-42 mg/100 g), phosphorus (20-77 mg/100 g), iron (0.4-4.4 mg/100 g). The vitamin complex consists of ascorbic acid - about 30 mg / 100 g, beta-carotene - from 10 to 11935 (in peel) mg / kg, vitamins B 1 - 0.04-0.06 mg / 100 g, B 2 - 0 04 and B 5 - 0.2 mg / 100 g. The pulp of the fruits of the plant contains phytoncides, glycosides; The peel is rich in essential oils and coumarins. The main chemical constituents of the fruit peel are bergapten, limonene, aurantiamarin, diosmin, limettin, and hesperidin glycoside.

Pharmacological properties

Medicinal properties fruits and flowers of citron finger are due to the presence of medicinal substances in their chemical composition. Due to the high content of vitamin C, the plant has a general strengthening effect on the human body, helps to fight the manifestations of colds, flu, runny nose. Citron oil has an anti-inflammatory effect; in Chinese medicine, it is used to treat skin diseases, reptile and insect bites, and burns. Due to the bitterness, infusions and tinctures from the fruits and flowers of the Buddha's hand have a beneficial effect on appetite, and also contribute to the production of gastric juice and the digestion of food. The plant has a positive effect on the secretion of sweat and sebaceous glands, and also exhibits active antifungal activity. The essential oils contained in the peel of the citron finger fruit have a high antispasmodic potential, have a beneficial effect on nervous system, have a tonic effect and improve mood.

Application in traditional medicine

AT folk medicine Chinese citron is used mainly as a bactericidal, expectorant, antispasmodic and appetite enhancer. Infusions of the fruits of the hand of the Buddha are used for diseases of the liver, spleen, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, as well as for inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx and throat. Also, citron finger is used to treat skin infections and inflammation, as well as problems with hair.

Indian traditional healers recommend washing the eyes with an aqueous infusion of the fruits of the citron finger in case of their purulent-inflammatory diseases, as well as to give the sclera a white color.

Wine brought to a boil along with citron pits is given as a drink to people who have suffered insect bites. And the squeezed juice from the crust of the fruits of the plant and added to the drink helps against the bites of poisonous snakes. The peel of the citron finger is also applied to the bite sites themselves in the form of a bandage.

With the help of the essential oil of the citron fruit, Chinese healers treat depression, nervous disorders and headaches caused by overwork and stress.

History reference

There is an assumption that the citron palmate plant with unusual fruits was brought by Buddhist monks to China from India after the 9th century. AD, from where it penetrated the Japanese islands. For many centuries, Indians, Chinese, Japanese and Malays have valued the plant for the bizarre shape of its fruits, which look like a mixture of lemon and squid, and their long-lasting fragrance.

The fruits of the citron finger in almost all countries of East Asia symbolize longevity, happiness and wealth. The hands of the Buddha gain particular popularity during the Eastern New Year: they decorate their homes with them, thereby attracting financial well-being, good luck and health to all its inhabitants.

Literature

1. Sokolsky I., Zamiyatina N. Golden fruits // Science and life: journal. - 2009. - No. 2. - ISSN 0028-1263.

2. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 4, Fruits p.692-693

3. Responses of Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis during Xanthomonas citri subsp. Citri Infection

4. Botanical journal. - L .: Nauka, 1953. - T. 38.

The finger citron, Corsican lemon, or popularly Buddha's hand, is one of the most incredibly beautiful and fragrant plants from the rue family. The leaves and the shrub itself look like a lemon, but the fruits are unique not only with a pleasant smell, but also with their shape, it looks like a hand with fingers, hence the name - the hand of the Buddha. The birthplace of the plant is India (Mesopotamia), since Buddhism is practiced there, the fruits of this plant are brought to the altar, in which the “fingers” are folded as in prayer. In food, the fruits of this citron are rarely used, since the pulp inside is practically absent. Basically, candied fruits are prepared from the peel or zest is added to pastries. In Japan, they have adapted to add the inside of the fruit of the hand of the Buddha with other seasonings to fish. It makes for an incredible taste. In addition, the fruit itself stays on the branch for a long time, exuding an incredible and pleasant smell for a month. The citron peel contains essential oils that have bactericidal properties, so it is beneficial to keep it in rooms where children are. Citron Buddha's hand proper care will delight with the beauty of fruits and leaves and fragrance.

Watering

When buying a citron, be sure to pay attention to the fact that its roots are all in the ground, if the upper part of the roots is visible, then the plant may die. This is due to the fact that the citron does not like the drying of the earthy coma and, of course, the roots. Watering is necessary every day, so that the soil is moist, but the water does not stand in the pot.

In addition to watering, citron must be sprayed 3-4 times a day with water at room temperature.

Top dressing should be added to watering only during flowering and fruit set. For the Buddha hand citron, the ideal fertilizers are those that are suitable for citrus plants. "Feed" the plant should be once a week. If, after top dressing, the leaves of the citron curl or it actively sheds them, then the fertilizer must be changed.

Abundant watering for finger citron is necessary not only in summer, but also during the dormant period - in winter, but without adding fertilizer.

Transfer

After acquiring a plant, it is advisable not to replant it, the pot for normal growth should remain the one in which it was brought. If there is still an urgent need to transplant the hand of the Buddha, for acceptable adaptation, it is best to transplant using the transshipment method. In this case, the root system will not suffer much, and the adaptation period will last much less.

The pot for the first transplant should be 10-15 centimeters in diameter. It is necessary to transplant citron once every 3-4 years, more often it is not recommended. Transplanting into a larger pot will lead to the fact that the plant may die, this is due to the fact that the plant will use all its strength to build up root system, while there will be no strength left for the crown and fruits. Therefore, the pot should not be large. With each transplant, you need to purchase a capacity of 5-10 centimeters more.

Lighting

Like all citrus fruits, the Buddha's Hand citron is a light-loving plant, but care must be taken to ensure that it is not in direct sunlight.

In summer, the plant feels great on the balcony, but not in direct sunlight. AT winter period for citron, it is best to add additional lighting, since the plant comes from Asia, it should receive enough light at any time of the year.

In the fall, after the citron is placed on the windowsill, it can begin to throw off the leaves, there is nothing to worry about, it has an adaptation period. At this time, it is important to observe the humidity of the air, for this, in addition to spraying, it is advisable to add water containers and place them around the plant, adding water every day.

reproduction

Since the fruits of the plant basically do not have seeds or they are usually underdeveloped, it is widely cultivated vegetative reproduction, that is, processes or cuttings.

Citron (Citrus medica), zest, the hand of the Buddha, as it is also called, is an exotic citrus fruit. What is it, not everyone has heard. Also, not everyone had a chance to try it. Moreover, the unusual-looking citron has an equally unusual story.

The citron plant belongs to the genus of citrus fruits of the rue family. It is known that around 4000 BC. e. it grew in Mesopotamia, South China and India. To date, citron is cultivated in almost the entire territory of the tropical and subtropical zones.

The citron is mentioned in the Bible, the great ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus and the great ancient Roman poet Virgil wrote about it. It is believed that it was not taste (at that time the citron was not considered edible), but Alexander the Great himself appreciated the medicinal and aromatic properties of the fruit. Actually, the great conqueror contributed to the spread of cedrat beyond the Tigris and Euphrates valleys.

The exotic fruit transferred its name to another plant. Very beautiful hybrid tea rose Citron has amazing flowers that change color from lemon to strawberry pink. Their aroma covers the entire local area.

Exists various varieties citron:

• C. limonimedica Bicolor - the fruits of this fruit are painted in two colors: green and dark purple. The bicolor variety is sometimes referred to as red citron.
• Citron piretto - the leaves of the plant exude an aroma similar to lemon, the fruits are yellow, pear-shaped reach 20 cm in length.
• Citrus ethrog - the fruits of the zest of this variety have a very dense, bumpy skin.

Undoubtedly, Special attention I want to give the most unusual citron variety - Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis. Because of its fruit, shaped like a human hand, it is called the hand of the Buddha throughout the world.

You should pay attention to its characteristics.

1. On plantations, the height of a citron plant can be about 3-4 meters. It takes the form of a shrub or tree. Homemade cedrat grows up to one and a half meters.
2. The citron has glossy green leaves. They are large and elliptical in shape. There is a very rare sub-variety of the hand of the Buddha - variegated, the leaves of which acquire a variegated color due to a beige or pinkish border around the edges.
3. Citron blooms with large white or white with red flowers, single or collected in inflorescences. The Buddha's hand flower is bisexual or functionally male.
4. The zest fruit is the largest of all citrus fruits. In the Buddha hand variety, it is palmate, it can be from 15 to 40 cm in length. The fingers are oblong, shaped like a banana, with a ribbed dense peel. It is noteworthy that citron fruits are valued not only for their exotic appearance, which can be assessed from the photo. Their aroma is very unusual, citrus-floral. They also have pronounced medicinal properties.

How to plant a citron at home

Due to its thermophilic nature, cedrat has not taken root in Europe; on the street, it cannot withstand temperatures below 10 ° C. But how kadochnoe indoor plant he feels quite comfortable.

The soil

Any citrus substrate is suitable for citron. Good drainage must be provided.

Lighting

This plant is photophilous, but prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can harm it.

Temperature regime

Citron is good in warmth, even in winter the room should be at least 15 ° C.

Watering

In summer, the hand of the Buddha needs abundant watering, wetting the leaves, a shower or a wet wipe. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced.

top dressing

Complex fertilizer (nitrogen-potassium or phosphate) is applied three times a month from March to November. In winter, you do not need to feed the plant.

Useful properties and application of citron

Like orange or lemon, Buddha's hand is used in the food, perfume, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

The fruits of zest have pronounced antiseptic and antibacterial properties, their juice is used topically for disinfection and wound healing. In Asia, expectorant, stimulating digestion, immunity-strengthening drugs based on this plant are used.

When fresh, Buddha's fingers are bitter, so after soaking them in salt water, they are often used to make jam, marmalade, and candied fruits. They also make spices and tea.

Many perfume manufacturers use the scent of zest in the bouquet of their perfumes and eau de toilette. The essential oil of the fruit is smoked indoors to disinfect and freshen the air in it.

It is also believed that the dried fingers of the Buddha, stored at home, protect the home from evil forces and bring good luck.

The Buddha's Hand Citron (Citrus medica var. Sarcodactylis) is also known as the "Finger Citron" in botanical reference books. But in the English-speaking environment, citrus growers have long called it the way it is in the title. This bright, not quite ordinary folk nickname has spread all over the world, taken root, and now even serious publications sometimes call the variety - Citrus medica "Buddha's Hand".

There is no doubt that the most main feature our hero are his fruits, or rather, their form. It is unique in the world of citrus fruits! Even the name, also unusual, arose thanks to these strange fruits. The fact is that their appearance clearly looks like a half-open human hand, or a squid, slightly spreading short, plump tentacles.

Mystery of origin

No one knows exactly when, where and how this variety of citron originated. Studies indicate that its homeland should be considered South East Asia. Perhaps the southern regions of India, Malaysia or Indonesia. The plant is common in China, but with a high degree of probability it got there much later, along with the penetration of Buddhism.

There is no doubt that the amazing shape of the fruit, which turned out to be a stable botanical trait, arose as a result of a gene mutation of "ordinary" citrons. Perhaps, the efforts of the ancient breeders of the East, who gladly “supported” the unusual appearance of the fruit, helped her gain a foothold. The image of a man who folded his palms in prayerful ecstasy was associated with her. In India, the tree has long been considered sacred, it was widely used (and is still used) in religious ceremonies.

Botanical description

"Buddha's Hand" has spread among lovers of homemade citrus fruits due to its unusual appearance. Culture has no serious industrial significance. At home, trees are also used mainly in decorative purposes although they also have practical applications.

Crown characteristic

In conditions open ground citron Buddha's Hand looks like a small plant about 3.5 meters high (sometimes a little higher). In a pot culture, especially if the tree is indoors all year round, it rarely grows more than 1.5 meters. Such compactness is a great advantage for room content.

The branches are long, tending to grow vertically, covered with rare, small thorns. The leaves are beautiful, leathery, light green in color, growing on short, strong petioles. Their shape varies, but is always obviously oblong, with rounded ends. The average leaf length is approximately 9-14 cm, the width is half as much.

Given that good care the tree develops quickly, reproduces well by rooting cuttings. Like all citrons, this one is also thermophilic, even in the winter months it is advisable not to lower the temperature below +5 ° C.

Interesting! Now breeders have brought out the variegated form of this variety, on the leaf plate of which large cream stains are visible.

Features of flowering

The flowers are large, about 5 cm in diameter, located mostly singly. They have a strong pleasant smell. Now there are varieties in which the buds and petals have a noticeable anthocyanin color, but the "original" Buddhas are distinguished by white flowers.

The peak of flowering occurs in the second half of spring, although a certain number of flowers can appear in summer. Fruits ripen closer to winter.

Description of fruits

Their unusual, even unique appearance has already been said. It should be added that the "fingers" on them do not always open. It is noticed that this happens only in 10 - 20% of cases. The rest of the fruits resemble, rather, a slightly clenched fist.

If the famous “fingering” has occurred, usually from 5 to 9 processes are observed. They can vary greatly in shape and size, resembling, in addition to human fingers, small bananas or squid tentacles. It is difficult to say why some fruits open and others do not. Certainly, both conditions of detention and genetic characteristics play a role in this.

Like all citrons, this one also has a very thick rind, which can reach half the size of the fruit itself. The surface of the peel is bumpy, the color is bright yellow. Its smell is remarkable: pleasant, exceptionally strong (fills the whole room). The average weight is about 400 grams.

Separately, it should be said about the pulp and its taste:

- The volume of the pulp is small, it is dry, has a cottony texture.

- The taste is bitter or neutral, these fruits are unsuitable for eating raw.

- Contains many essential oils and rare glycosides.

- The bones are large, reminiscent of pumpkin, sometimes there can be quite a lot of them. Their peculiarity is that they often begin to germinate already under the skin, if the fruit is overexposed on the tree.

Given this information, it becomes clear that these citrus fruits are not directly eaten. But they are used in cooking to obtain candied fruits, as well as seasoning for various dishes. For this purpose, they are preliminarily dried or dried. Sometimes, however, the pulp is added to salads and raw. Also, the fruits are simply decorated with festive dishes.

In addition, in the countries of the East, the Buddha's Hand citron is known as a cosmetic and medical product, it is widely used by Buddhists for their religious ceremonies.

Interesting! In the latter case, it is the closed fruits, in the form of a fist, that are valued. After all, a person folds his fingers in prayer, and does not spread them out! At the same time, among European flower growers, a wide-open form is considered a special achievement, it attracts with its unusualness. These are the cultural differences in the world of people that this tree opens!

Concluding the conversation about the “usefulness” of citron, we repeat that most often it is grown in the East as an ornamental plant that decorates the space around the house and inside it, filling the air with fragrance. As an industrial crop, it is of limited importance in Japan and China.