Buddha's hand

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Buddha's hand Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis
Buddha's hand fruit, underside of "open hand" form
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Subclass:	Rosidae
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Rutaceae
Genus:	Citrus
Species:	C. medica
Variety:	C. m. var. sarcodactylus
Trinomial name
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylus

Buddha's hand, Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis (also known as bushukan　ブッシュカン (Japanese) or fingered citron), is a fragrant citronvariety whose fruit is segmented into finger-like sections. The origin of Buddha's hand plant is traced back to Northeastern India or China.^[1]

Description

Buddha's hand fruit, "closed hand" form

Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis^[2] is 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.^[3]

Buddha's hand has a thick peel and only a small amount of acidic flesh (if any) and is juiceless and sometimes seedless.

[edit]Uses

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

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.

[edit]Culinary

Citron varieties
Acidic-pulp varieties:
Diamante citron Greek citron Balady citron Florentine citron
Non-acidic varieties:
Moroccan citron Corsican citron
Pulpless varieties:
Buddha's hand Yemenite citron
Related Articles:
Citrus • Succade • Hybrid •Grafting • Chimera • Etrog •Sukkoth • Four Species
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The peel of the fruit can be candied into succade. In Western cooking, it is often used for its zest. The inner white pith is not bitter as is usually the case with citrus, so the fingers may be cut off and then longitudinally sliced, peel, pith, and all, and used in salads or scattered over cooked foods such as fish.^[4]

[edit]Cultivation

Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis is cultivated for fruit crops and as an ornamental tree in gardens and containers on patios and terraces. It is sensitive to frost, as well as intense heat and drought. It grows best in temperate conditions. Areas such as the coast of Southern California as well as inland valleys are considered ideal for its planting. Trees can be grown from cuttings taken from branches two to four years old. It is very commonly grafted onto sufficient rootstock.