Citrus medica (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Citrus medica Rutaceae South/South-East Asia

• English: Citron
• Amargna: Tiringo
• Oromugna: Turungo
• Tigrigna: Tiringuin

Citron probably originated in the sub-Himalayan region of north-eastern India and upper Burma from where it has been taken to most tropical countries. Commercial planting of citron is limited to the Mediterranean region and to Puerto Rico. In Ethiopia, it is commonly cultivated in irrigated areas of Moist and wet Kolla and Dry, Moist and Wet Weyna Dega agroclimatic zones, 1,100—1,600 m. It is very sensitive to frost but does well in frostfree valley plains.

Food (fruit), medicine (leaves, fruit).

An evergreen spiny shrub or small tree.

• LEAVES: Distinguished by having no “wing” on the stalk, and no joint to the leaf blade; the rather large leaves have a toothed edge.
• FLOWERS: Of two kinds, some losing the central ovary, petals white inside but pink-purple outside.
• FRUIT: Big and oval-oblong, yellow, the skin bumpy, 20–30 cm long. Most of the inside is thick white peel, with a small amount of very acid pulp around the seeds.

Usually by leafy cuttings taken from 2—4 year-old branches. Citron can be budded onto rough lemon, grapefruit, sour and sweet orange, but the fruits remain smaller than those produced from cuttings. Citron also tends to overgrow the rootstock.

Usually not used.

• Storage: Can store.

Observe good hygiene in order to minimize incidense of plant diseases. Water sprouts should be eliminated and low-hanging branches should be pruned to prevent the fruit touching the soil.

This fruit is prized for its reputed medicinal properties. Cultivated since the nineteenth century, it can occasionally be seen for sale in local markets and in Addis Ababa. The thick aromatic peel is suitable for making candied peel. Citron is quite a delicate plant that tends to produce fruit throughout the year but without excessive harvests at any particular season. It is most suited as a home-garden tree.