Buddha's hand

Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis{{cite web |url=http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/199200352.html |title=Citrus medica var. Buddhas Hand |work=Catalog of the Living Plant Collections |publisher=University of Connecticut, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Plant Growth Facilities |location=Storrs, CT |access-date=2010-04-20 }} 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.

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. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.melissas.com/Buddhas-Hand-p/92.htm|title=Buddhas Hand|work=Melissa's Produce}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=32212&st=&pgnum=379|title=Responsa Zivhei Tzedek, Orah Hayim §37}}

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.{{cite book |last1=Goldschmidt |first1=Eliezer E. |last2=Bar-Joseph |first2=Moshe |title=The Citron Compendium: The Citron (Etrog) Citrus medica L.: Science and Tradition |date=7 June 2023 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-031-25775-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SRrEEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22goblin+fingers%22+fruit&pg=PA352 |language=en}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/buddha.html |title=Buddha's hand citron |work=Catalog of the Citrus Variety Collection |publisher=University of California, Riverside, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Citrus Experiment Station |location=Riverside, CA |access-date=2010-04-20 }}

Cedro à Ditela ò multiforme Volkamer 1708 116b.png|A fingered citron by Volckamer

A_species_of_citrus_fruit_(Citrus_sarcodactylis_Hort._Bog.);_Wellcome_V0042687.jpg|Fingered citron by Wellcome Trust

Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis 01.JPG|Huge fruit breaking bearing twig

Menton - Val Rahmeh 05.jpg|Buddha's hand citron in Val Rahmeh botanical garden

Citrus medica01.JPG|Semi-fingered and closed

Castello,_collezione_degli_agrumi_06.jpg|Closed fingers

Buddha's hand fruit.jpg|Side view

Buddhas Hand.jpg|A fingered citron

Citrus_medica_var._sarcodactylis1SHSU.jpg|Semi-closed fingers

Castello, collezione degli agrumi 05.jpg|In Villa di Castello

Semi dwarf fingered citron.jpg|Semi dwarf fingered citron (green)

Buddhas hand 2.jpg|With open fingers

Citron_(8448513463).jpg|Cross section in a Variety etrog citron, and in fingered citron

• Japanese citrus

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Category:Citron

Category:Fruits originating in Asia

Category:Garden plants of Asia

Category:Ornamental trees