Editing Citron (section)

== Origin and distribution ==
[[File:Map of inferred original wild ranges of the main Citrus cultivars, and selected relevant wild taxa (Fuller et al., 2017).png|thumb|Map of inferred original wild ranges of the main ''Citrus'' cultivars, and selected relevant wild taxa<ref name="fuller">{{cite book|first1=Dorian Q. |last1=Fuller |first2=Cristina |last2=Castillo |first3=Eleanor|last3=Kingwell-Banham|first4=Ling|last4=Qin|first5=Alison|last5=Weisskopf|editor1-first=Véronique |editor1-last=Zech-Matterne |editor2-first=Girolamo|editor2-last=Fiorentino|title =AGRUMED: Archaeology and history of citrus fruit in the Mediterranean |chapter =Charred pomelo peel, historical linguistics and other tree crops: approaches to framing the historical context of early Citrus cultivation in East, South and Southeast Asia |publisher =Publications du Centre Jean Bérard|year =2017|pages=29–48|isbn =9782918887775|doi=10.4000/books.pcjb.2107|url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03501166/file/2017-Ruas-etal-Citrus.pdf |chapter-url =https://books.openedition.org/pcjb/2173?lang=en}}</ref>]]
The citron is an old and original citrus species.<ref name=Chambers>{{cite book|last=Chambers|first=William and Robert|title=Chambers's Encyclopedia: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge for the People|year=1862|publisher=W. and R. Chambers|location=London|page=55, vol. 3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8gTj2h8cFM4C&dq=oil+of+cedrate&pg=PA55}}</ref>

There is molecular evidence that most cultivated citrus species arose by [[Hybrid (biology)#Hybrid plants|hybridization]] of a small number of ancestral types: the citron, [[pomelo]], [[Mandarin orange|mandarin]] and, to a lesser extent, [[Papeda (citrus)|papedas]] and [[kumquat]]. The citron is usually [[fertilized]] by [[self-pollination]], which results in their displaying a high degree of genetic [[zygosity|homozygosity]]. It is the male parent of any citrus hybrid rather than a female one.<ref name="HortScience 2005" /><ref>{{cite journal |author=E. Nicolosi |author2=Z. N. Deng |author3=A. Gentile |author4=S. La Malfa |author5=G. Continella |author6=E. Tribulato |title=Citrus phylogeny and genetic origin of important species as investigated by molecular markers |journal=Theoretical and Applied Genetics |date=June 2000 |volume=100 |issue=8 |pages=1155–1166 |doi=10.1007/s001220051419|s2cid=24057066 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Noelle A. Barkley |author2=Mikeal L. Roose |author3=Robert R. Krueger |author4=Claire T. Federici |title=Assessing genetic diversity and population structure in a citrus germplasm collection utilizing simple sequence repeat markers (SSRs) |journal=Theoretical and Applied Genetics |date=May 2006 |volume=112 |issue=8 |pages=1519–1531 |doi=10.1007/s00122-006-0255-9 |pmid=16699791 |s2cid=7667126 |url=https://naldc-legacy.nal.usda.gov/naldc/download.xhtml?id=11065&content=PDF |access-date=2018-12-04 |archive-date=2021-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309064039/https://naldc-legacy.nal.usda.gov/naldc/download.xhtml?id=11065&content=PDF |url-status=dead |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Asad Asadi Abkenar |author2=Shiro Isshiki |author3=Yosuke Tashiro |title=Phylogenetic relationships in the 'true citrus fruit trees' revealed by PCR-RFLP analysis of cpDNA |journal=Scientia Horticulturae |volume=102 |issue=2 |date=1 November 2004 |pages=233–242 |doi=10.1016/j.scienta.2004.01.003|bibcode=2004ScHor.102..233A }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=C. A. Krug |title=Chromosome Numbers in the Subfamily Aurantioideae with Special Reference to the Genus ''Citrus'' |journal=Botanical Gazette |volume=104 |number=4 |date=June 1943 |pages=602–611 |jstor=2472147 |doi=10.1086/335173|s2cid=84015769 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=R. Carvalho |author2=W. S. Soares Filho |author3=A. C. Brasileiro-Vidal |author4=M. Guerra |title=The relationships among lemons, limes and citron: a chromosomal comparison |journal=Cytogenetic and Genome Research |volume=109 |issue=1–3 |date=March 2005 |doi=10.1159/000082410 |pages=276–282 |pmid=15753587|s2cid=26046238 }}</ref><ref name="Talon">{{cite journal|title=Genomics of the origin and evolution of ''Citrus'' | last1=Wu | first1=Guohong Albert | last2=Terol | first2=Javier | last3=Ibanez | first3=Victoria | last4=López-García | first4=Antonio | last5=Pérez-Román | first5=Estela | last6=Borredá | first6=Carles | last7=Domingo | first7=Concha | last8=Tadeo | first8=Francisco R | last9=Carbonell-Caballero | first9=Jose | last10=Alonso | first10=Roberto | last11=Curk | first11=Franck | last12=Du | first12=Dongliang | last13=Ollitrault | first13=Patrick | last14=Roose | first14=Mikeal L. Roose | last15=Dopazo | first15=Joaquin | last16=Gmitter Jr | first16=Frederick G. | last17=Rokhsar | first17=Daniel | last18=Talon | first18=Manuel | journal=Nature | year = 2018 | volume=554 | issue=7692 | pages=311–316 | doi=10.1038/nature25447 | pmid=29414943| bibcode=2018Natur.554..311W | doi-access=free | hdl=20.500.11939/5741 | hdl-access=free }}</ref>

Archaeological evidence for citrus fruits has been limited, as neither seeds nor pollen are likely to be routinely recovered in archaeology.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fuller |first1=Dorian Q. |last2=Castillo |first2=Cristina |last3=Kingwell-Banham |first3=Eleanor |last4=Qin |first4=Ling |last5=Weisskopf |first5=Alison |chapter=Charred pummelo peel, historical linguistics and other tree crops: Approaches to framing the historical context of early Citrus cultivation in East, South and Southeast Asia |chapter-url=https://books.openedition.org/pcjb/2173?lang=en#ftn2 |title=AGRUMED: Archaeology and history of citrus fruit in the Mediterranean : Acclimatization, diversifications, uses |publisher=Publications du Centre Jean Bérard |language=en |date=15 January 2018 |isbn=9782918887775 }}</ref> The citron is thought to have been native to the southeast foothills of the [[Himalayas]].<ref name="Talon" /> Despite its scientific designation, which is an adaptation of the old name in classical Greek sources  “Median pome”, this fruit was not indigenous to Media or ancient Media;<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/citrus-fruits- | title=Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica }}</ref><ref>''Inquiry into Plants'' 4.iv.2.</ref> it was mostly cultivated on shores of the [[Caspian Sea]] (north of Mazandarn and Gilan) on its way to the [[Mediterranean basin]], where it was cultivated during the later centuries in different areas as described by Erich Isaac.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Erich Isaac |title=The Citron in the Mediterranean: a study in religious influences |journal=Economic Geography |volume=35 |issue=1 |date=January 1959 |pages=71–78 |doi=10.2307/142080 |jstor=142080}}</ref> Many mention the role of [[Alexander the Great]] and his armies as they attacked [[Achaemenid Empire|Iran]] and what is today [[Pakistan]], as being responsible for the spread of the citron westward, reaching the [[Europe]]an countries such as [[Greece]] and [[Italy]].<ref name="Purdue Citron" /><ref name="Simoons p.200">{{cite book |author=Frederick J. Simoons |title=Food in China: a cultural and historical inquiry |publisher=CRC Press |year=1990 |isbn=9780849388040 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fo087ZxohA4C&q=alexander+the+great+citron&pg=PA200 |page=200}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/ethrog.html|title=ethrog|publisher=University of California, Riverside|access-date=2008-05-04|archive-date=2015-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608215246/http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/ethrog.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Marion Eugene Ensminger |author2=Audrey H. Ensminger |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o3UD2iL4sAAC&q=Alexander+the+great+citron&pg=PA424 |title=Foods & Nutrition Encyclopedia |edition=2nd |volume=1 |publisher=CRC Press |year=1993 |isbn=9780849389818 |page=424}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Francesco Calabrese |chapter=Origin and history |editor=Giovanni Dugo |editor2=Angelo Di Giacomo |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OLaykfpqSaYC&q=alexander+the+great+citron&pg=PA4 |title=Citrus: The Citrus Genus |publisher=CRC Press |date=2003 |page=4 |isbn=9780203216613}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SmRJnd73dbYC&dq=alexander+the+great+citron&pg=PA7 Biology of Citrus]{{dead link|date=November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=H. Harold Hume |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WP3ohzxbRxgC&q=alexander+the+great+citron&pg=PA59 |title=Citrus Fruits and Their Culture |publisher=Read Books |year=2007 |isbn=9781406781564 |page=59}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Emmanuel Bonavia|author-link=Emmanuel Bonavia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tsNBAAAAIAAJ&q=alexander%20the%20great%20citron&pg=PA255 |title=The Cultivated Oranges and Lemons, Etc. of India and Ceylon |publisher=W. H. Allen |year=1888 |page=255}}</ref>

=== Antiquity ===
{{See also|Etrog#Historic cultivation areas}}
Leviticus mentions the "fruit of the beautiful ('hadar') tree" as being required for ritual use during the [[Feast of Tabernacles]] ([http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0323.htm Lev. 23:40]). According to Jewish Rabbinical tradition, the "fruit of the tree hadar" refers to the citron. [[Sukkah (Talmud)|Mishna Sukkah]], {{Circa|2nd century AD}}, deals with [[halakhic]] aspects of the citron.

[[file: Segment_of_synagogue_mosaic_floor_from_Tiberias_at_Eretz_Israel_Museum_in_Tel_Aviv.jpg|thumb|upright|Ancient mosaic of Tiberian Synagogue depicting citrons]]

The [[Egyptologist]] and [[archaeologist]] [[Victor Loret]] said he had identified it depicted on the walls of the [[Botanical garden of Thutmosis III|botanical garden]] at the [[Karnak Temple]], which dates back to the time of [[Thutmosis III]], approximately 3,500 years ago.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Scientific Committee, March 28, 1893: The Antiquity of the Citron in Egypt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=21oCAAAAYAAJ&q=citron+persian+gulf&pg=RA3-PR20 |journal=Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society |volume=16|last1=Britain) |first1=Royal Horticultural Society (Great |year=1894 }}</ref> Citron was also cultivated in [[Sumer]] as early as the 3rd millennium BC.

The citron has been cultivated since ancient times, predating the cultivation of other citrus [[species]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Ramón-Laca |first=L. |title=The Introduction of Cultivated Citrus to Europe via Northern Africa and the Iberian Peninsula |journal=Economic Botany |date=Winter 2003 |volume=57 |issue=4 |pages=502–514 |doi=10.1663/0013-0001(2003)057[0502:tiocct]2.0.co;2|s2cid=33447866 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

=== Theophrastus ===
The following description on citron was given by [[Theophrastus]]<ref>''Historia plantarum'' 4.4.2–3 (''exc.'' Athenaeus ''Deipnosophistae'' 3.83.d-f); cf. Vergil ''Georgics'' 2.126-135; Pliny ''Naturalis historia'' 12.15,16.</ref>
[[File:A species of citrus fruit (Citrus sarcodactylis Hort. Bog.); Wellcome V0042687.jpg|thumb|Illustration of [[fingered citron]] with the leaves and thorns that are common to all varieties of citron]]
<blockquote>In the east and south there are special plants ... i.e. in Media and Persia there are many types of fruit, between them there is a fruit called Median or Persian Apple. The tree has a leaf similar to and almost identical with that of the ''andrachn'' (''[[Arbutus andrachne]]'' L.), but has [[Thorns, spines, and prickles|thorns]] like those of the ''[[apios]]'' (the wild [[pear]], ''Pyrus amygdaliformis'' Vill.) or the [[firethorn]] (''Cotoneaster pyracantha'' Spach.), except that they are white, smooth, sharp and strong. The fruit is not eaten, but is very fragrant, as is also the [[leaf]] of the tree; and the fruit is put among [[clothes]], it keeps them from being [[moth]]-eaten. It is also useful when one has drunk deadly poison, for when it is administered in [[wine]]; it upsets the [[stomach]] and brings up the poison. It is also useful to improve the [[breath]], for if one boils the inner part of the fruit in a dish or squeezes it into the mouth in some other medium, it makes the breath more pleasant.

The seed is removed from the fruit and sown in the [[Spring (season)|spring]] in carefully tilled beds, and it is watered every fourth or fifth day. As soon the plant is strong it is [[Transplanting|transplanted]], also in the spring, to a soft, well watered site, where the soil is not very fine, for it prefers such places.

And it bears its fruit at all [[season]]s, for when some have gathered, the flower of the others is on the tree and is ripening others. Of the [[flower]]s I have said<ref>''Historia plantarum'' 1.13.4.</ref> those that have a sort of distaff [meaning the [[carpel|pistil]]] projecting from the middle are fertile, while those that do not have this are sterile. It is also sown, like [[date palm]]s, in pots punctured with holes.

This tree, as has been remarked, grows in Media and Persia.</blockquote>

=== Pliny the Elder ===
Citron was also described by [[Pliny the Elder]], who called it ''nata Assyria malus''. The following is from his book ''[[Natural History (Pliny)|Natural History]]'':
<blockquote>There is another tree also with the same name of "citrus", and bears a fruit that is held by some persons in particular dislike for its smell and remarkable bitterness; while, on the other hand, there are some who esteem it very highly. This tree is used as an ornament to houses; it requires, however, no further description.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chap. 31.—The Citron-Tree |work=Perseus Digital Library |publisher=Tufts University |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D13%3Achapter%3D31}} excerpting from {{cite book |title=The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. |editor1=John Bostock |editor2=H. T. Riley |location=London |publisher=Taylor and Francis |year=1855}}</ref>

The citron tree, called the Assyrian, and by some the Median or Persian apple, is an antidote against poisons. The leaf is similar to that of the [[Arbutus|arbute]], except that it has small prickles running across it. As to the fruit, it is never eaten, but it is remarkable for its extremely powerful smell, which is the case, also, with the leaves; indeed, the odour is so strong, that it will penetrate clothes, when they are once impregnated with it, and hence it is very useful in repelling the attacks of noxious insects.

The tree bears fruit at all seasons of the year; while some is falling off, other fruit is ripening, and other, again, just bursting into birth. Various nations have attempted to naturalize this tree among them, for the sake of its medica or Persian  properties, by planting it in pots of clay, with holes drilled in them, for the purpose of introducing the air to the roots; and I would here remark, once for all, that it is as well to remember that the best plan is to pack all slips of trees that have to be carried to any distance, as close together as they can possibly be placed.

It has been found, however, that this tree will grow nowhere except in Persia. It is this fruit, the pips of which, as we have already mentioned, the [[Parthia]]n grandees employ in seasoning their [[ragout]]s, as being peculiarly conducive to the sweetening of the breath. We find no other tree very highly commended that is produced in Media.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D12%3Achapter%3D7|title=Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, Book XII. The Natural History of Trees, Chap. 7. (3.)—How the Citron Is Planted.|publisher=Tufts University}}</ref>

Citrons, either the pulp of them or the pips, are taken in wine as an antidote to poisons. A decoction of citrons, or the juice extracted from them, is used as a gargle to impart sweetness to the breath. The pips of this fruit are recommended for pregnant women to chew when affected with [[qualmishness]]. Citrons are good, also, for a weak stomach, but it is not easy to eat them except with [[vinegar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D23%3Achapter%3D56|title=Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, Book XXIII. The Remedies Derived from the Cultivated Trees., Chap. 56.—Citrons: Five Observations upon Them.|publisher=Tufts University}}</ref></blockquote>

=== Medieval authors ===
[[Ibn al-'Awwam]]'s 12th-century agricultural encyclopedia, ''Book on Agriculture'', contains an article on citron tree cultivation in [[Spain]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ibn al-'Awwam|first=Yaḥyá|author-link=Ibn al-'Awwam|title=Le livre de l'agriculture d'Ibn-al-Awam (kitab-al-felahah) |year=1864|location=Paris|publisher=A. Franck|translator=J.-J. Clement-Mullet |pages=292–297 (ch. 7 - Article 29)|url=https://archive.org/details/lelivredelagric00algoog/page/n14/mode/2up |language=fr|oclc=780050566}} (pp. [https://archive.org/details/lelivredelagric00algoog/page/n400/mode/2up 292]–297 (Article XXIX)</ref>