1242

 

Citrus medica L.

Synonym	:	Aurantium medicum (L.) M. Gómez
Family	:	Rutaceae
Local name	:	English         - Wild Lemon Malayalam  - Gnapathi-naragam
Flowering and fruiting period	:	March-October
Distribution	:	Probably indigenous in India
Distribution in kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Cultivated
Endemic / Exotic		Exotic
Uses	:	Possesses analgesic, hypoglycaemic, anticholinesterase, anticancer, antidiabetic, hypocholesterolemic, hypolipidemic, insulin Secretagogue, anthelmintic, antimicrobial antiulcer and estrogenic properties.
Key Botanical Characters  :    Shrubs or small trees; branchlets angled, glabrous; spines axillary, stout, sharp Leaves alternate, simple, variable, obtuse at base, crenate at margin, acute at apex. Inflorescences axillary racemes, few-flowered. Flowers bisexual and male. Calyx urceolate, 4-lobed, Petals 4, oblong, purplish.. Stamens 35-40; filaments polyadelphous, Ovary cylindric. Fruits ovoid-oblong, yellowish; seeds numerous.