Buddha's hand

Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis, or the fingered citron, is a citron variety whose fruit is segmented into finger-like sections, resembling those seen on representations of the Buddha. It is called Buddha's hand in many languages including English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and French.

Fingered citron
Buddha's hand fruit, "open hand" appearance when ripe
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Rutaceae
Genus:	Citrus
Species:	C. medica
Variety:	C. m. var. sarcodactylis
Trinomial name
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis (Hoola van Nooten) Swingle

Buddha's hand
Chinese name
Chinese	佛手柑
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin fóshǒugān
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese	quả phật thủ
Korean name
Hangul	불수감
Hanja	佛手柑
Transcriptions Revised Romanization bulsugam
Japanese name
Kanji	仏手柑
Transcriptions Romanization busshukan

The different cultivars and variations of this citron variety form a gradient from "open-hand" types with outward-splayed segments to "closed-hand" types, in which the fingers are kept together. There are also half-fingered fruits, in which the basal side is united and the apical side fingered. The origin of this kind of citron is commonly traced back to South or East Asia, probably northeastern India or China, where most domesticated citrus fruits originate.

Description

Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis is, like any other citron variety, a shrub or small tree with long, irregular branches covered in thorns. Its large, oblong leaves are pale green and grow about four to six inches. Its white flowers are tinted purplish from the outside and grow in fragrant clusters. The fruit's fingers contain only the white part of the fruit and sometimes a small amount of acidic pulp, but many of them are completely juiceless and some are seedless.

The plant is sensitive to frost, as well as intense heat and drought. It grows best in a temperate climate. Trees can be grown from cuttings taken from branches two to four years old. It is very commonly grafted onto sufficient rootstock.

Uses

Perfumery

Buddha's hand fruit is very fragrant and is used predominantly in China and Japan for perfuming rooms and personal items such as clothing.

Religious

The fruit may be given as a religious offering in Buddhist temples. According to tradition, Buddha prefers the "fingers" of the fruit to be in a position where they resemble a closed rather than open hand, as closed hands symbolize to Buddha the act of prayer. In China, the Buddha's hand fruit is a symbol of happiness, longevity, and good fortune. It is also a traditional temple offering and a New Year's gift.

Whether a Buddha's hand is acceptable for liturgical use as an etrog on Sukkot was addressed in the 19th century by Rabbi Abdallah Somekh and his disciple, Rabbi Yosef Hayyim, both of Baghdad. The former was inclined to permit it, whereas the latter maintained that one may not use a variety of etrog in the absence of a positive tradition of its having been used.

Ornamental

The fingered citron is cultivated as an ornamental tree in gardens and containers on patios and terraces. In the United States, its unripe fruits have been sold under the trademark goblin fingers as a decorative Halloween novelty.

Food and medicine

Unlike other citrus fruits, most varieties of the Buddha's hand fruit contain no pulp or juice. Though esteemed chiefly for its "exquisite form and aroma", the Buddha's hand fruit can also be eaten (often as a zest or flavouring) in desserts, savory dishes, and alcoholic beverages (such as vodka or rice liquor) or candied as a sweet. The sliced, dried peel of immature fruits is also prescribed as a tonic in traditional medicine.

Gallery

• 
  A fingered citron by Volckamer
• 
  Fingered citron by Wellcome Trust
• 
  Huge fruit breaking bearing twig
• 
  Buddha's hand citron in Val Rahmeh botanical garden
• 
  Semi-fingered and closed
• 
  Closed fingers
• 
  Side view
• 
  A fingered citron
• 
  Semi-closed fingers
• 
  In Villa di Castello
• 
  Semi dwarf fingered citron (green)
• 
  With open fingers
• 
  Cross section in a Variety etrog citron, and in fingered citron

See also

• Japanese citrus

External links

• Media related to Buddha's hand at Wikimedia Commons
• Pictures