Ponderosa lemon
The ponderosa lemon originated in roughly 1887, and is believed to come from a chance seedling grown in Hagerstown, Maryland. It was later named and introduced to the nursery trade in 1900. Though often referred to as a cross between the lemon and citron, a recent genomic analysis showed it to solely contain pomelo ("Citrus maxima") and citron ("Citrus medica") DNA, perhaps being an F2 hybrid. Thus they cannot derive from true lemons, which have a mandarin orange component.
Zest (ingredient)
The zest and mesocarp vary with the genetics of the fruit. Fruit with peels that are almost all flavedo are generally mandarines; relatives of pummelos and citrons tend to have thicker mesocarp. The mesocarp of pummelo relatives (grapefruit, orange, etc.) is generally more bitter; the mesocarp of citron relatives (Mexican and Persian limes, alemows etc.) is milder. The lemon is a hybrid of pummelo, citron, and mandarin. The mesocarp is also edible, and is used to make succade.