Pearl

Synonyms

None

Cultivar or taxon

Citrus x aurantium L., pro sp. [Tangelo Group] [=Citrus reticulata Blano X Citrus x aurantium L., pro sp. [Grapefruit Group]] (sensu Mabberley 1997, 2004); Citrus reticulata Blanco x Citrus paradisi Macfad. (sensu Swingle and Reece 1967); Citrus paradisi Macfad. x Citrus deliciosa Ten (sec. NPGS/GRIN 2010; sensu Tanaka sec. Cottin 2002)

Origin

Hodgson (1967) noted that: "Pearl...was released in 1940 (Frost 1940). It is unattractive and too small in all but the hottest climates but may be suitable for home use."

Description

Crown compact or dense, not weeping. First-year twig surface pubescent; second- or third-year twig surface striate; thorns absent or not persistent; prickles absent or not persistent. Petiole pubescent, length short; wings narrow, adjoining the blade. Leaflets one, margin bluntly toothed, shade leaflet blades weakly conduplicate, sun leaflet blades weakly conduplicate. Scent of crushed leaflets mandarin-like. Fruit as broad as long or longer than broad; rind green-yellow (6), yellow (7-10), yellow-orange (11), or orange (12); rind texture slightly rough (4-5); firmness leathery; navel absent; flesh orange; taste acidic-sweet or acidless-sweet.

Hodgson (1967) provided the following additional information on the cultivar:

"Fruit medium-small, slightly oblate; color yellow; seedy. Rind comparatively smooth, thin and tightly adherent; axis solid. Flesh tender, juicy; flavor pleasantly sweet. Medium-early in maturity and loses quality if left on tree past maturity.

Tree vigorous, spreading, drooping, and somewhat alternate bearing. "

Notes

Hodgson (1967) additionally indicates that Pearl more closely resembles grapefruits and pummelos.

References

Cottin, R. 2002. Citrus of the World: A citrus directory. Version 2.0. France: SRA INRA-CIRAD.

Frost, H.B. 1940. The Pearl tangelo—a new citrus variety. California Citrograph 25: 346.

Hodgson, R.W. 1967. Horticultural varieties of Citrus. In: Reuther, W., H.J. Webber, and L.D. Batchelor (eds.). The Citrus industry, rev. University of California Press. http://lib.ucr.edu/agnic/webber/Vol1/Chapter4.html.

Mabberley, D.J. 1997. A classification for edible Citrus (Rutaceae). Telopea 7: 167–172.

Mabberley, D.J. 2004. Citrus (Rutaceae): A review of recent advances in etymology, systematics and medical applications. Blumea 49: 481–498.

Swingle, W.T. and P.C. Reece. 1967. The botany of Citrus and its wild relatives. In: Reuther, W., H.J. Webber, and L.D. Batchelor (eds.). The Citrus industry. Ed. 2. Vol. I. University of California, Riverside. http://lib.ucr.edu/agnic/webber/Vol1/Chapter3.html.

Resources

Search for this cultivar in NCBI Entrez