Green citrus fruit. Varieties of citrus fruits

What are the most famous citrus fruits? The list of most Europeans is limited to orange, tangerine, lemon and grapefruit. However, in total there are more than 60 species. Most of them appeared due to the crossing of different varieties and hybridization. However, not all of them are edible. Some, such as bergamot, are used as a flavoring agent. But still, many citrus fruits can enrich the usual diet and benefit.

Orange

Despite the fact that today the orange is one of the most common citrus fruits, it did not originally exist in nature. It is believed that 2500 years BC. e. it was obtained by crossing a mandarin and a pomelo in China. From here, already in the 15th century, the first orange trees were brought to Europe, and it even became fashionable to grow them in special greenhouses. They quickly took root on the southern coast of Spain, France, and later in the United States.

Oranges are those citrus fruits that doctors recommend eating daily. They have a general strengthening effect on the body, improve mood and contribute to the normalization of digestion. A glass of orange juice with breakfast will give you energy for the whole day and improve your appetite. In addition, it is recommended for diabetes, fever (as a source of fluid) and beriberi.

In addition to the classic ones, blood oranges, or blood oranges, are still common in Europe. They are distinguished from ordinary ones by bright red flesh and a sweeter taste. Otherwise, they are similar to traditional ones and may well replace them. In total, there are more than 30 varieties of oranges that differ from each other in appearance and taste.

Lemon

The main competitor of the orange in terms of popularity among Europeans can safely be called a lemon. He is even more often remembered when asked to name citrus fruits. But lemon is also not found in the wild. However, it is not known exactly when it was cultivated. The birthplace of the lemon is considered Southeast Asia. Most likely, the first hybrids appeared in India and from there were brought to Europe in the 12th century.

Lemons, despite their high acid content, are recommended to normalize digestion in case of high acidity. Eating them regularly will strengthen the immune system due to the high content of vitamin C. Due to their taste properties, lemons are often used in cooking. Based on it, lemonade, popular all over the world, is prepared. Also, pieces of fresh fruit are added to strong tea. He is known all over the world as "Russian".

Mandarin

These very common citrus fruits originally from southern China did not appear in Europe until the end of the 19th century. But thanks to the fact that they were easy to peel (hence their name) and had a sweetish pulp, tangerines quickly gained popularity. As a result, different varieties appeared - from pale yellow to bright orange. And on their basis, many hybrids have been created: tangerine and orange - natsumikan, tangerine and grapefruit - tangelo, tangerine and kumquat - calamondin, as well as some others.

Perhaps the main useful property of all tangerines and hybrids based on them is that they contribute to the restoration of strength in the long winter period. They will help to cope with the blues and strengthen the immune system. They are also recommended for eating cores, pregnant women and those suffering from chronic bronchitis. True, they should be eaten with caution, since an excess of fruit can cause severe allergies.

Grapefruit

This hybrid of orange and pomelo has been common in Europe for a long time. And this is despite its specific bitter taste. And the fact is that the daily use of grapefruit contributes to weight loss even while maintaining the usual diet. Based on it, a special diet has been developed, where it is proposed to complete each meal with half of this fruit.

But not only grapefruit is useful for this. He, like many other citrus fruits, is a real storehouse of organic acids, vitamins (C, P, D and B1) and naringin, which is useful for the heart muscle. In addition, grapefruit juice is believed to improve mood and is an excellent antidepressant. With caution, it should be used only when taking contraceptives and drugs to reduce pressure, as well as ulcers, allergies and with increased acidity of the stomach.

pomelo

For most, the named 4 species are all citrus fruits. What other fruits are included? First of all, it is worth mentioning the pomelo. After all, this is one of the few wild citrus fruits cultivated by man. Also, many hybrids have been created on its basis (for example, orange and grapefruit). It differs from its counterparts in its coarser skin, impressive size and fibrous pulp. However, it is much sweeter than the same oranges and lemons.

In China, pomelo is considered a symbol of prosperity and is often presented as a gift on major holidays. And it is no coincidence. It normalizes metabolism, helping to cleanse the body and reduce weight. It is also suitable as a prophylactic for hypertension, heart disease and cancer. As well as other citrus fruits, the names of which have already been mentioned here, it is not recommended for those prone to allergic reactions.

Citrus (lat. Citrus) is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs of the Rutaceae family. Included in the subtribe Citrus (Citrinae) of the tribe Citrus (Citreae) subfamily Orange (Aurantioideae). Southeast Asia is considered the homeland of citrus fruits.

The word "citrus" in Latin meant "lemon tree".

Of the citrus fruits in Russia, only tangerines grow in the very South of the country. With fruits growing in Russia

Initially, before human cultivation of citrus fruits, the genus of citrus fruits included only species: Lime, Mandarin, Pomelo, Poncirus, Citron - in Asia;

Australian limes: Finger lime, Round lime, Desert lime;

You can learn about the exotic fruits of Australia in this article.

Kumquats (it is not clear why they are classified as citrus fruits, because they belong to the genus Fortunella); You can learn about the kumquat fruit in this article.

Papedas: Citrus halimii and Wild Indian Orange.

All other types of citrus fruits were obtained by hybridization or crossing. Learn more about citrus fruit hybrids here.

List of citrus fruit names

Ugli: Crossed in 1914 in Jamaica with mandarin and grapefruit. Has a sweet taste.

Orange: Everyone knows this plant since childhood. You can read about the orange fruit in this article.

Bergamot: Bergamot is obtained by crossing orange and citron. The fruit has a pleasant sour taste.

: Citrus is native to India. It grows mainly in the wild places of India and South Central India. The taste is sour due to the high content of acids, although it also contains some types of sugars. Gayanima peels have an aroma similar to eucalyptus or ginger. It is for this reason that they are also used for pickling in South India.

Grapefruit: The grapefruit is thought to have originated from a cross between a pomelo and an orange. The fruits are very fragrant in taste and have a sour and bitter taste. The grapefruit was discovered in the mid-18th century in the Caribbean.

Rough-skinned lemon: It is a closely related species of common lemon. It is also used as a regular lemon.

wild indian orange: As the name implies, the birthplace of this fruit is India. It is one of the old, primitive ancestors of modern citrus fruits. This plant is an endangered species. This fruit is used for medicinal and spiritual purposes in India.

Kaffir lime: The fruit of this fruit is inedible, but the peel is used in cooking. The juice in the fruit is very acidic. Its leaves are used in cooking. The leaves are used in a traditional Thai dish, Tom Yam (sour soup).

round lime: Large shrub or tree, up to 10-12 meters high.

lemon ichansky: Named after the city of Yichang, China. A hardy plant that can grow in temperate areas of Europe and the United States.

wild lemon: Cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. The fruits are used in the same way as the fruits of an ordinary lemon.

: The importance of this fruit lies in the possibility of rootstock to other citrus fruits.

real lime: With lime fruit

lime sweet: Has a pleasant taste, juices are made from it.

Lemon: You can find lemon fruit in this article.

meyer lemon: This plant is used as an ornamental because of its compact size. Popular in the US due to recipes used with this fruit. In the mid-20th century, it was a carrier of viruses in the United States, due to which many citrus fruits were destroyed.

Calamondin, Citrofortunella: Used as an ornamental plant.

Clementine: This hybrid was created in 1902. It has delicious fruits, reminiscent of tangerine.

Mandarin: You can read more about the mandarin fruit in this article.

noble mandarin, or royal mandarin: Something between tangerine and orange.

Mandarin Unshiu: This fruit is native to Japan. In Russia it is used as an ornamental plant.

Mineola: It is a hybrid of 'Dancy' mandarin with 'Duncan' grapefruit. Mineola is grown in Florida (USA), China, Turkey and Israel.

A: This plant is the flower of Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan. It is a hybrid of sour orange (orange) and pomelo. The plant was first discovered in Japan in the 17th century.

orangelo: Chironha or Orangelo is a natural hybrid of grapefruit and sweet orange. The plant is native to the highlands of Puerto Rico. In 1956, fruit specialist Carlos G. Moskosa noticed this plant near coffee plantations. Its fruits were larger and brighter than those of other trees. Chironha is very popular in local markets. The fruits are large, grapefruit-sized, slightly elongated or pear-shaped. The peel is bright yellow or orange, not thick, smooth, rather tight to the pulp but peeled off very easily. The pulp is yellow-orange, soft, tender and very juicy, divided into segments. The fruits are consumed fresh, as a grapefruit is cut in half and the pulp is eaten with a spoon. The fruits are preserved with syrup. Delicious candied fruits are prepared from the peel.

finger lime: Fruit having an oval shape. Gaining popularity in Australia. Added to various recipes.

pomelo: Pomelo fruit is the largest of the citrus fruits. The taste of the fruit is sweet to sour. The fruit is eaten fresh. Pomelo juice has a higher value.

Pomeranian: Orange-like fruit. The fruit is used in medicine.

Ponkan: Basically it's a tangerine. It has pleasant taste.

Poncirus: Poncirus fruits are not eaten, but with special processing, drinks can be made from it. Poncirus crosses freely with citrus fruits, which is actively used.

desert lime: Desert lime crosses freely with other citrus fruits. Its fruits are highly valued.

rangpur: Rangpur is a hybrid of mandarin and lemon. The fruits are very acidic. Rangpur is mainly used as a rootstock for citrus fruits.

sweetie or oroblanco: Its name "sweetie" comes from the English word sweet-sweet. It was obtained in the 1970s as a hybrid of pomelo with white grapefruit.

: This is a citrus tree that was discovered in 1973, so it was not given a Russian name. It is rare and poorly understood. The fruits of this plant are edible but acidic. The plant is native to Southeast Asia. In the wild, it is very rare, only in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The peel is yellow-orange, thick, poorly separated from the pulp. The flesh is yellow-green, not juicy, with a lot of seeds.

zander: This fruit is not eaten, but used as a flavoring instead of vinegar.

Tangelo: Hybrid obtained in 1897. The fruit has a sour taste.

Tangerine (Mandarin): The tangerine is a species or subspecies of the mandarin.

Thomasville: Poncirus trifoliata × Citrus sinensis × Fortunella

Citron: Fruit pulp tastes sour or sweet-sour. Do not eat fresh. It is used for confectionery purposes. Also a variety of citron is the finger citron or "Buddha's hand". He has a very bizarre fruit shape.

Wilson's citrus: This is a hybrid plant obtained by crossing papeda and grapefruit. The plant is used as a rootstock. The fruits are large. The rind is thick, tough and fragrant. The flesh is juicy, sour and very bitter.

Citrus Kombava: is a citrus plant. Its skin is dark green and rough. The fruit itself is inedible, the peel is sometimes used in cooking, but its main value lies in the leaves. There is little juice in the fruit and it is very sour. The bouquet of this citrus is undoubtedly citrusy, but its full lemon flavor comes out when the leaves are torn or cut. Thai cuisine is inconceivable without its leaves; Malay, Burmese and Indonesian cooks also use them. The leaves are torn into pieces or cut into strips and used in soups (especially sour ones) and in curries. Finely grated zest is sometimes added to fish and chicken dishes. Dried leaves retain their flavor for several months if stored in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place. They are used in much the same way as bay leaves and do not need to be pre-soaked.

: A type of citrus fruit native to Japan, mainly in Hiroshima Prefecture. It is a hybrid derived from grapefruit and mandarin. It was discovered in 1860 in Hiroshima Prefecture. Currently, the fruit is grown in Japan in large quantities. The fruit is large, similar to an orange or grapefruit, slightly flattened at both ends. The peel is bright yellow, thick, slightly rough. The flesh is not sweet, sour, slightly bitter, refreshing in taste, pale yellow in color, firm but not very juicy, divided into many segments. Hassaku is eaten fresh, cut in half and eaten with a spoon. In cooking, this fruit is practically not used.

Yunos (Yuzu)

You won’t surprise us with citrus fruits - many people add lemon to tea every day, and they buy tangerines not only for the New Year. But the citrus family is not limited to these fruits. There are many fragrant fruits in the world that you may not have tried or even heard of. Our today's selection is about a dozen citrus novelties.

This citrus was obtained in 1914 by crossing a tangerine and a grapefruit. The fruit turned out to be a little larger than a grapefruit, but it tastes more like a mixture of tangerine and lemon. Agli has sweet juicy flesh and wrinkled greenish-yellow skin. It is grown mainly in the USA, Florida, so if you are passing through there - try it!

2. Bergamot

It turns out that this is not only a flavor for tea, but also citrus, obtained by crossing citron and orange. It has a sour but pleasant taste. Bergamot, unlike most citrus fruits, is eaten only in processed form - it is used to make jam, jam, marmalade.

3. Gayanima

The fruit comes from the wild places of India. It has a sour taste, due to which the inhabitants of South India even use it for pickling. Gayanima peel has a specific aroma, reminiscent of the smell of ginger or eucalyptus.

4. Clementine

A hybrid citrus bred in Algeria in 1902 by the French priest Father Clement (hence the name). It resembles tangerine, has a pleasant taste, is bred mainly in Mediterranean countries (the same Algeria, Spain, Italy, Morocco).

5. Natsudaidai

Unlike its decorative counterpart called kikudaidai, which is also grown in Japan, natsudaidai is completely edible - it is a hybrid of sour orange (orange) and pomelo. True, it is much more acidic than these fruits. This plant was discovered in the garden of Yamaguchi Prefecture in the 17th century, and since then natsudaidai has been the symbol of the prefecture of this city.

6. Finger lime

It is completely different from the lime that has become familiar to us! It is sometimes called citrus caviar - for the multi-colored pulp, consisting of elastic small particles, and really resembling caviar. There are many varieties of finger limes, and outwardly these oval-shaped fruits resemble colorful cucumbers. This fruit is most popular in Australia: local chefs actively use it in cooking, adding finger lime to salads and even soups, served as a side dish, garnishing meat and fish dishes with pulp.

7. Ponkan (suntara)

In fact, this is a tangerine, which, however, surpasses any tangerines and their hybrids in terms of taste and nutritional qualities. The pulp of ripe fruits is orange, juicy, sweet, with a large number of seeds. Not only fruits are used for food, but also leaves - they make fragrant tea, which perfectly quenches thirst.

8. Hassaku

It is also a variety of mandarin, which nevertheless does not resemble mandarin either in smell or taste: it resembles an orange, mandarin and grapefruit at the same time and has a sweet-sour taste with a slight bitterness. Want to try? I'll have to go to Japan, to Hiroshima Prefecture. Interestingly, they are not eaten immediately after being removed from the branches - hassaku fruits should lie down for a month or two in a dark place, or even on the ground or sand. This is how this citrus gets its sweetness.

9. Naranjilla

The plant comes from the foothills of the Andes, but you can try these fruits not only there, but also in Costa Rica, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador. It is a 1.5-2 m tall shrub that looks so attractive that it is used as an ornamental plant for greenhouses and gardens. Its fruits look like small oranges, but their amazing taste resembles a mixture of pineapple, passion fruit and strawberries. The inside of the naranjilla fruit contains many creamy white seeds similar to tomato seeds.

10. Lemon Feronia (wood apple, Persian lemon)

Another citrus comes from India, which is distinguished by large fruits (up to 12 cm) with a hard, “wooden” peel. In appearance, the pulp is unattractive, but its taste is excellent - feronia can be both sweet and sour.

So when you travel, don't forget to try local exotic citruses, which are unlikely to be found in our supermarkets.

1. Dancy tangerine is just a type of mandarin that grows in Morocco, Sicily, China and the USA. As a rule, tangerines are red-orange bright tangerines, sweet, with thin skin that easily separates.
2. Orlando. The result of pollination of the Duncan grapefruit with pollen from the same Dancy tangerine.
3. Tangelo Nova is a hybrid of clementine and tangelo Orlando.
4. Thornton - a hybrid of tangerine and grapefruit.
5. Uglifrut (Ugli) - this drop dead beauty turned out by accident. In 1917, one J. J. R. Sharp, owner of Trout Hall Ltd. (now Cabel Hall Citrus Ltd., I understand), Jamaica, found this crappy crap in a pasture. Recognizing it as a likely tangerine-grapefruit hybrid, he took a cutting from it, grafted it onto a sour orange, and proceeded to re-graft the offspring, choosing the fruit with the fewest seeds. In 1934, for the first time, he gave the country so much coal fruit that he was even able to start exporting to England and Canada.
6. Tangelo Wekiwa, Canadian, light-skinned, the result of a repeated crossing of tangelo into a grapefruit

7. Tangor is the result of crossing tangerine and sweet orange. Rather, it is considered so. In fact, everything is a little more complicated. The most famous tangor is Temple (Temple, Temple, Temple). Its origin is not completely clear.
8. Clementine. And this is a hybrid of mandarin and king orange, created by the French missionary and breeder Father Clement (Clement Rodier) in Algeria in 1902. Actually, if you buy a tangerine, and it is somehow too sweet for a tangerine, it is quite possible that it is actually a clementine.
9. The natural tangor of the East is tankan. This culture has been cultivated since time immemorial in the south of China, on the island of Formosa (Taiwan) and in the Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima. The tree on which the tankan grows is indistinguishable from a tangerine, but the fruits make one suspect that this citrus is a hybrid with an orange.
10. Ortanique - also probably a natural tangor. It was also found in Jamaica, but already in 1920. Since tangerine and orange trees grew nearby, they decided that this was their hybrid. The name was collected from the world by thread - or (ange) + tan (gerine) + (un) ique.
11. Royal mandarin (Citrus nobilis, kunenbo, Cambodian mandarin). His appearance is quite memorable, it rarely happens in our stores and is sold simply as a tangerine
12. Markot is also a famous tangor. Also of unknown origin. Marcotes are called Florida tangors, about the parental varieties / species of which nothing is known for certain. The first tree was found in 1922 and built in good hands.


13. Satsumy (inshiu, Citrus unshiu) Moroccan. According to one version, all satsums are a hybrid of citron and lime; the second is a hybrid of orange and lime.
14. Yemeni citron - an independent species.
15. Citron "Fingers (hand) of the Buddha" is similar to Cthulhu;)
16. Corsican citron. Please note - all these varieties have almost no pulp - one zest.


17. Kaffir lime (Kaffir lime, kaffir lime, Citrus hystrix, Kaffir lime, porcupine citrus)
18. Etrog
19. Persian (Tahitian) lime
20. Limetta (limette, Citrus limetta, Italian lime, sweet lime)
21. Mexican lime (West Indian lime, sour lime). It is the Mexican lime that is usually painted on bottles and cans with all sorts of lime drinks.
22. Indian lime (aka Palestinian, Palestinian sweet lime, Colombian lime) has long been considered a hybrid of lime and lime, but attempts to cross these plants did not result in anything similar.


23. Australian finger lime (finger lime). It is also called citrus caviar.
24. He is. There are many varieties of them, with pulp of different colors. The origin is also unclear. The fruits are similar to multi-colored cucumbers. Australian chefs use the pulp of finger limes as a side dish, add it to salads and soups, and decorate fish and meat dishes with it.
25. Limandarins (lemons) - the results of crossing tangerines with limes or lemons. Limandarins have been bred in China since time immemorial. It is believed that the first Limandarin was the result of a cross between a Cantonese lemon and a Cantonese mandarin. The Chinese red lemons that appear on our shelves are typical lemons.
26. Rangpur - Indian hybrid of mandarin and lime


27. Otahite (Sweet Rangpur, Otahite Rangpur, Tahitian Orange). This is also a limandarin, also believed to be from India. It was opened in 1813 in Tahiti, from where the Europeans took it around the world.
28. Rough lemon or citronella. It comes from Northern India and is a hybrid of mandarin and citron.
29. Pomelo. It is also Citrus maxima, Citrus grandis, pummela and sheddock - in honor of Captain Sheddock, who brought pomelo seeds to the West Indies (to Barbados) from the Malay Archipelago in the 17th century. Huge round or pear-shaped fruits with a rather thick rind, a lot of juicy pulp, rough, easily detachable membranes. One of the original citrus fruits, from which all their variety is gone. The zest of a pomelo is yellow, green, and the flesh is yellow, green, red.
30. Pomelo with lime.
31. Hybrid - Duncan grapefruit, a variety bred in Florida, in 1830
32. Also a hybrid - grapefruit Hudson


33. A very famous pomelo hybrid in our country is Oroblanco. It is the result of crossing Siamese sweet pomelo and Marsh grapefruit.
34. Sweety - a hybrid grapefruit from Israel
35. New Zealand grapefruit. It is called grapefruit, but it is believed that it is either a natural tangelo or a hybrid of pomelo and grapefruit. The place of origin is also unclear - either China or Australia. Significantly sweeter than most grapefruits.
36. Chironha is a citrus fruit that is about the size of a grapefruit and tastes more like an orange.


37. Calamondin (a.k.a. golden lime, Panama orange, calamansi, musky lime), the result of crossing sour mandarin (sunky) and kumquat
38. Yuzu (ichandrin, young) - the result of crossing sunki and ichang-papeda (ichang lime)
39. Kumquat. These are such small, with the extreme phalanx of the thumb of an adult male, yellow or orange fruits, similar in shape to reduced lemons. Sold, as a rule, in large grocery stores, in laminated foam trays. They appeared in Russia relatively recently, only a few years ago. At first they were hellishly expensive, but today they have fallen in price. Well, if you haven't tried them yet, you've probably seen them.
40. Limequat Eustis (a hybrid of Mexican lime and round kumquat)
41. Mandarinquat Indio
42. Lemonquats (lemon + kumquat) and orangequats (orange or tripoliata + kumquat). And here, attention, faustreme is a hybrid of Eustice limequat and Australian finger lime


43. Sevillano, Seville bitter orange. In Seville they produce 17 thousand tons per year. Bitter oranges are not eaten fresh, juices are not made from them, but they are used in the hybridization of citrus fruits, used to make orange bitters, to give an orange flavor to liqueurs, and also as a seasoning for fish and as a raw material for obtaining aromatic oils.
44. Citranzhquat - a hybrid of citrange (which in turn is a hybrid of orange and trifoliates, aka poncirus) and kumquat.
45. Bitter orange kikudaidai (Japanese citrus, canaliculata) is a purely ornamental plant. In Japan, it is grown to admire
46. ​​Bergamot (bergamot lemon, bergamot sour orange) - a variety of bitter orange with a very bright recognizable smell - used in perfumery
47. Sweet orange Citrus sinensis - Chinese citrus.
48. A hybrid of sour orange and pomelo - natsudaidai or natsumikan


49. Citrus sinensis - from within.
50. Red oranges. Their Russian name is korolki. Americans call them blood oranges - bloody oranges. The bloodiest sanguinelli...
51. ...and sanguinelli


52. The fruit of papeda ichang. Use papeds for hybridization
53. Ponciruses - an independent genus of the subfamily of the orange family of the rue family, including one single species - trifoliata or three-leafed poncirus.
54. Citremon - a hybrid of trifoliata and lemon
55. Kabusu (kabosu) - Chinese, but especially popular in Japan, a hybrid of papeda and orange


56. Eremocitruses or Australian dessert limes. This is also a separate subgenus of citrus fruits. Eremocitrus has a drop dead shaggy tree and small green fruits
57. Murrays are a separate genus of the rue family, not citruses. But their fruits are similar to citrus fruits, and therefore everyone who is engaged in breeding, studying and hybridizing citrus fruits is also interested in murrays. Murray is also known as orange jasmine.


58. Severinia is also close to citrus fruits
59. Afrocitrus or citropsis. They are African cherry oranges. These are trees with small edible fruits that vaguely resemble citrus fruits.
60. Lemon feronia, sour limon or Indian wood apple. Indian wild-growing rue with very sour (although they say that there are also sweet) edible fruits with an almost wooden peel.
61. Ceylon Orangester. Orangester fruits are very bitter, but the leaves, if rubbed, broken, have a strong lemon flavor.

Among all fruits, a special place is occupied by the fruits of citrus plants. They differ not only in their taste and benefits, but also in their great variety. To better understand the fruits, it is worth studying the list of citrus fruits with their features and specific characteristics.

General characteristics of citrus fruits

Before analyzing the issue with varieties of citrus fruits, it is necessary to determine the place of these plants in the biological system. It is also worth identifying common features that unite citrus fruits, determining the characteristic properties of trees and fruits.

fruit tree properties

Citrus - a rank in biological systematics that unites flowering woody plants of the Rut family. Numerous citrus fruits are grouped under the genus Citrus.

This is a family of evergreen trees and shrubs. The name of citrus plants and fruits comes from the Latin word "citrus". In Latin, it means "lemon tree".

Features of the structure of trees:

1. They are distinguished by a well-developed, lush and beautiful crown. The attractive appearance makes citrus trees a popular ornamental plant for home growing.
2. The life expectancy of a culture is several decades.
3. In most cases, they have spines or thorns on the stems.
4. The leaves are dense, containing essential oil. Most citrus leaves are medium to large in size. The shape of the leaves is elongated, with a pointed end.
5. The flowers are white, less often with a slight shade of pink.
6. Poorly tolerate cold, non-frost-resistant plants.
7. Plants are demanding on moisture, but do not like excessive moisture.
8. For normal development, they need a lot of sunlight, but it should not be direct.

fruit properties

Citrus fruits are called hesperidia. This term refers to a berry-like fruit with a specific structure.

1. The outer layer forms the peel. It can be single layer, double layer or multilayer. The outer tough shell, usually shiny, contains glands with essential oil and carotenoids. Under the shell is the inner dry layer of the peel, which has a spongy and loose structure. It provides a bunch of peel with pulp. The difficulty of separating the pulp depends on the structural features of the inner layer of the peel.
2. The pulp often consists of several slices. Each slice in its structure contains sacs that are filled with juice.
3. The pulp contains seeds. Their number and size vary depending on the type of citrus.

The fruits of most citrus plants are very healthy and contain a large amount of vitamins, nutrients and trace elements.

Criteria for distinction

All citrus plants, in addition to common features, have features. They allow you to distinguish fruits and highlight each species from the whole variety.

Varieties differ in the growth of trees. Some plants are large. So, an orange can reach a height of up to 15 m. Other citrus fruits are of medium height. Most types of citrus grow up to 5-6 m. There are also plants that are undersized and do not reach 2-2.5 m.

An important criterion for difference is the maturation time. Citrus trees are evergreens. Under optimal conditions, they can flower and bear fruit all year round, with multiple harvests throughout the year. Each citrus has a specific ripening period, which fits in the period from mid or late autumn to late winter. More precise dates depend on the type of citrus and its variety. There are early, mid-season and late-ripening varieties.

Criteria for distinguishing fruits:

1. Form. Most citrus fruits are round or oval in shape. But there are species with a pear-shaped or even bizarre shape.
2. Size. Types of citrus fruits are very diverse in terms of fruit size. Fruits are large, medium or small. They can be from 3-5 cm to 25-30 cm.
3. Taste. The taste of fruits is also very diverse. Most of them contain sugar and acids, so the taste is sweetish-sour. The intensity depends on the specific content and proportions of the compounds. In some species, a sweetish aftertaste prevails. Lemon is sour. Some hesperidia have a bitter taste of varying intensity.
4. Fruits differ in the thickness of the peel, the structure of the pulp and seeds. Species with a thin crust and juicy pulp are of the greatest value.
5. Fruits differ in the color of the constituent elements of hesperidium. The predominant colors are orange and yellow. Available colors are red, green and white.

Common types

It is problematic to list and characterize all types of citrus fruits. Therefore, we highlight the most common and interesting options. For each of the above species, we note the specific properties and characteristics.

Citron

The hesperidium of the citron is the largest of all citrus fruits.

• The length of the fruit can reach 40 cm.
• Diameter - up to 29 cm.
• The shape is elongated.
• Skin color is yellow.
• Thick peel up to 5 cm.
• The inner flesh is low juicy.
• Taste - sour or sour-sweet, with bitterness.
• It has no nutritional value.

An interesting and exotic variety is the Hand of the Buddha. A feature of this plant is the appearance of hesperidium. It is divided into several parts extending from the base. Reminds me of human fingers. Each "finger" has a thick rind and a small amount of sap-containing tissue. The fruits of the Buddha Hand variety are distinguished by a strong aroma.

Lemon

Natural hybrid of citron and sour orange. The fruit is elongated from the base to the top. Diameter - about 6 cm, length - about 9 cm. The peel is thick, up to 40% of the total weight of the fruit, difficult to separate, the surface is ribbed. Color - light yellow. The taste is sour. The specific aroma is due to the presence of essential (lemon) oil in all elements of the plant.

Common varieties of lemon suitable:

• for cultivation at home - Pavlovsky, Panderose, Genoa, Meyer, Lisbon, Lunario, etc .;
• for food purposes - Lisbon, Villa Franca, Meyer.

Grapefruit

Random hybrid of pomelo and orange. The fruit is large, diameter is about 12-14 cm. The taste is sweetish with sourness and hints of bitterness. The intensity of the red hue indicates the concentration of sugar. The higher the concentration, the sweeter the fruit. The color of the pulp is from light yellow to red-ruby. The surface is yellow with a reddish tinge.

There are about two dozen varieties of this fruit. They are divided into two large groups according to the color of the pulp:

• white;
• red.

Popular varieties: Rio Red, Star Ruby, Flame.

Orange

The most common citrus crop. A cross between a pomelo and a mandarin. But not all researchers share this view. 100% "parent" orange plants have not been established.

Hesperidium has a medium or large size, about 10-13 cm. The peel is of medium thickness, it is separated from the flesh with effort. The skin color is bright orange or orange with a yellow tint. The pulp is juicy. The taste is sweet with sourness.

Mandarin

The most common types of citrus fruits in Asian countries in the south and southeast of the continent. The fruits are thin and easy to separate from the pulp. In addition to the taste and useful elements contained, this is one of the benefits of the fruit. The size of the fruit is small, about 5-6 cm in diameter. The shape is rounded, slightly flattened at the base. The flesh has a yellow-orange color. The slices are easily separated from each other. The fruit in question has a strong specific and recognizable aroma. The pulp is sweet.

pomelo

Other names for the fruit are Pompelmus, Sheddock. The shape of the fruit is round or pear-shaped. Hesperidium is covered with a thick skin. The color of ripe fruits is from light green to yellow. The fruit is the second largest among citrus fruits. The diameter is about 30 cm. There are pomelo weighing about 10 kg. Differs in large-sized juice fibers and drier pulp, relative to other citrus fruits. The taste is pleasant, sour-sweet with slight hints of bitterness.

Common varieties of pomelo: Khao Horn, Khao Namfung, Khao Pen, Khao Fuang, Tongdi.

Pomeranian

Other names for the fruit are kinotto or bigaradiya. A hybrid of mandarin and pomelo. The fruit is small in size, dark bright orange in color. Hesperidium is small, about 5-6 cm in diameter. The peel is thick, with pronounced irregularities, easily separated. The pulp is sour with a bitter taste.

Lime

Origin from India. Fruit up to 6 cm in diameter. The Mexican lime is a product of the domestication of citrus and the citrus micrania. The shape is ovoid. The pulp is juicy, light green with a yellowish tint. The taste is very sour. The peel is very thin, green or yellow. Specific aroma, different from lemon.

Trifoliata

Another name for poncirus three-leafed. Hesperidium is small, about 50 mm in diameter. The peel is soft, densely covered with a velvety fluff, golden yellow in color. The pulp is bitter-sour, inedible. The most frost-resistant type of citrus, can withstand temperatures down to -20 ° C.

hybrids

Citrus fruit trees and shrubs interact well with each other. The facts of natural crossing are known, as a result of which magnificent varieties were obtained. To develop fruits with new properties, various hybrids are also being actively created using artificial, directional crossing.

Citrus fruits resulting from hybridization:

1. Rangpur (the Japanese name for the fruit is "heim", the Brazilian name is "kravo") is the result of crossing a mandarin and a lemon. The fruit is dark orange. It has a very sour taste. The size is small, about 50 mm.
2. Clementine - came from the hybridization of mandarin and orange Kinglet. The clementine fruit is similar in appearance to the tangerine, but has a sweeter flavor. They are valued not only for their taste, but also for the content of a large amount of ascorbic acid. There are three main types of clementine - Corsican, Spanish and Montreal.
3. Sweety (oroblanco or pomelit) is a hybrid of pomelo and white grapefruit. The skin is thick and green. It has a sweet taste. Medium sized fruit. It is an excellent antidepressant and normalizes blood pressure.
4. Thomasville (citranzhquat) is a hybrid of citrange and kumquat.
5. Tangelo is the result of crossing a tangerine and a grapefruit. The fruit is large, 10-15 cm, with a small growth at the base. Taste is sour.
6. Calamandin (citrofontunella) is a hybrid of mandarin and kumquat (fortunella). The fruit is small.

After reviewing the general list of fruits of citrus plants, it is easier to determine which fruits are healthy, taste good, or are undesirable for eating.