Yes, lemons are essentially "manmade" in the sense that they are a hybrid fruit resulting from plant breeding and cultivation practices over many centuries.
Lemons didn't occur naturally in the wild. Instead, they are believed to be a hybrid between citrons and sour oranges (or bitter oranges). This hybridization likely occurred through intentional or unintentional cross-pollination over generations, guided by human selection for desirable traits.
Here's a breakdown:
- Origin: Lemons originated through the hybridization of two other citrus fruits.
- Human Influence: This hybridization process involved human intervention, whether intentional or unintentional, in selecting and propagating trees with certain characteristics.
- Cultivation: The lemons we know today are the result of years of cultivation and refinement.
- Time to Fruition: Once planted, a lemon tree typically takes 3-5 years to bear fruit. A single tree can then produce up to 1,500 lemons per season.
In summary, while lemons are a product of natural processes like hybridization, human influence played a significant role in their development and cultivation, making them a "manmade" fruit in that sense.
