Orangelo

Summary

An orangelo (Spanish chironjaC. paradisi × C. sinensis) is a hybrid citrus fruit originated in Puerto Rico. The fruit, a cross between a grapefruit and an orange, had spontaneously appeared in the shade-providing trees grown on coffee plantations in the Puerto Rican highlands.

Orangelo
Hybrid parentageCitrus paradisi × Citrus sinensis
OriginPuerto Rico

In 1956, Carlos G. Moscoso, from the Horticulture, Agricultural Extension Service of the University of Puerto Rico noticed trees that grew fruits that were larger and a brighter yellow than those of the other trees on the plantations.[1][2] Rootstock trials led to the development of the hybrid commonly known as the chironja. In Puerto Rican Spanish, the name is a portmanteau of orange (Puerto Rican Spanish: china) and grapefruit (toronja).

Orangelos are often eaten in the same manner as grapefruit (cut in half and eaten with a grapefruit spoon), but are sweeter and brighter in color than grapefruit, as well as being easier to peel.[1] They are round to pear-shaped, with 9–13 segments.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Morton, J. (1987). "Orangelo". hort.purdue.edu. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Orangelo". fruitsinfo.com. Retrieved 17 January 2017.

External links edit

  • Chironja at the Citrus Variety Collection.
  • THE PUERTO RICAN CHIRONJA – A new type of citrus
  • Chironja at Citrus ID
  • The Puerto Rican chironja—new all- purpose citrus fruit