Rough lemon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Citrus × jambhiri |
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| Flower of Citrus × jambhiri | |
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Citrus
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| Species: |
× jambhiri
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The Rough lemon (Citrus × jambhiri Lush.) is a type of citrus fruit and the tree it grows on. It's a special kind of plant called a citrus hybrid. This means it's a mix of two different citrus plants. The rough lemon is a cross between a mandarin orange and a citron. It's similar to another fruit called the rangpur.
Rough lemon trees are known for being cold-hardy citrus. This means they can handle colder weather better than some other citrus trees. They can also grow into very large trees.
What Makes Rough Lemon Special?
Rough lemons have a very thick peel, or "rind." About ninety percent of the fruit is rind! Because of this, it's not usually eaten fresh like a regular lemon. It's not very tasty on its own.
How Rough Lemon Helps Other Trees
The main use for rough lemon is as a citrus rootstock. Think of a rootstock as the strong roots and lower part of a plant. Gardeners and farmers use rough lemon rootstock to help other citrus trees grow better.
There are different types, or cultivars, of rough lemon that work well as rootstock. Some popular ones include 'Florida', 'Schaub', and 'Vangassay' rough lemon.
Growing New Trees with Rough Lemon
Here's how rough lemon is used to grow new orange or grapefruit trees:
- First, rough lemons are mashed up.
- This yellow mash is then placed in a long, shallow ditch called a furrow.
- Small plants, called seedlings, start to grow from this mash.
- Once these seedlings are big enough, a special technique called shield budding (or T budding) is used. This is where a small piece from an orange or grapefruit tree is carefully joined onto the rough lemon seedling.
- The rough lemon roots then help the new orange or grapefruit tree grow strong and healthy. This method helps new trees get the best qualities from both plants.
