i like the ones that have the little nub on top

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5783584&forum_id=2],#49328576)

if i had to guess the nub is probably a nutrient pouch

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5783584&forum_id=2],#49328746)

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what is the biologicial purpose of a the pitam on the etrog (citron fruit)?

ChatGPT said:

Great question — and a surprisingly deep one botanically!

The pitam (פִּטָם) on an etrog — the little stemlike protrusion with a “button” at the end opposite the branch — actually corresponds to the style and stigma of the citron flower (the female reproductive part). In biological terms, it’s the remnant of the flower’s pistil that remains attached after pollination and fruit development.

Here’s the breakdown:

In most fruits (like lemons, oranges, etc.), the style and stigma dry up and fall off once the fruit begins to grow.

In etrogim (and certain other varieties of citron), however, the pitam persists as the fruit matures.

The ball-like structure at the tip of the pitam is the stigma (where pollen lands), and the thin column is the style, which once connected the stigma to the ovary inside the fruit.

So, biologically, the pitam had a reproductive purpose during flowering — enabling pollination and fertilization — but by the time we see the fruit, it’s just a leftover floral structure with no ongoing function for the plant.

Interestingly, many commercial citron varieties (especially those grown for fragrance or food) have been bred to drop the pitam early so the fruit isn’t damaged easily — the pitam can fall off with a small bump, which is why for sukkot we’re careful that it remain intact (pitam shenafal = invalid).

So in short:

🌼 Biological purpose: originally part of the flower’s reproductive organ (style and stigma).

🍋 Current role: none — just a remnant after pollination, but culturally significant for ritual use.

Would you like me to show a labeled diagram of an etrog flower and fruit showing which parts correspond to the pitam?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5783584&forum_id=2],#49328774)