mandarin orange

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Mandarin orange
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Rutaceae
Genus:	Citrus
Species:	C. reticulata
Binomial name
Citrus reticulata Blanco

The Mandarin orange, also known as mandarin or mandarine, is a small citrus tree (Citrus reticulata) with fruit resembling other oranges. The fruit is oblate, rather than spherical. Mandarin oranges are usually eaten plain, or in fruit salads. Specifically reddish orange mandarin cultivars can be marketed as tangerines, but this is not a botanical classification.

The tree is more drought-tolerant than the fruit. The mandarin is tender, and is damaged easily by cold. It can be grown in tropical and subtropical areas.

Varieties and characteristics

The Mandarine orange is but one variety of the orange family. The mandarine has many names, some of which actually refer to crosses between the mandarin and another citrus fruit. Most canned mandarines are of the Mikan variety (derived from migan in Chinese), of which there are over 200 cultivars. One of the more well-known mikan cultivars is the "Owari", which ripens during the late fall season. Clementines, however, have displaced mikans in many markets, and are becoming the most important commercial mandarin variety.

The mandarin is easily peeled with the fingers, starting at the thick rind covering the depression at the top of the fruit, and can be easily split into even segments without squirting juice. This makes it convenient to eat, as utensils are not required to peel or cut the fruit.

The tangor, which is also called the temple orange, is a cross between the mandarin and the common orange. Its thick rind is easy to peel; and its bright orange pulp is sweet, full-flavored, and tart.

Some cultures world wide have different names for mandarin orange. In Vietnam, it is called quýt hồng. The most famous variety of Mandarin orange in Vietnam is grown in Lai Vung district, Đồng Tháp province and usually bears fruits on Tết holiday. In Maldives, mandarin oranges are known as Yoosuf afandhi.

Biological characteristics

Citrus fruits varieties are usually self-fertile (needing a bee only to move pollen within the same flower) or parthenocarpic (not needing pollination and therefore seedless) (such as satsumas).

Blossoms from the Dancy cultivar are one exception. They are self sterile, therefore must have a pollenizer variety to supply pollen, and a high bee population to make a good crop.

Furthermore, some varieties, notably clementines, are usually seed free, but will develop seeds if cross-pollinated with a seeded citrus. Thus, great efforts are taken to isolate clementine orchards from any seeded citrus varieties.

Medicinal uses

• The dried peel of the fruit of C. reticulata is used in the regulation of ch'i in Traditional Chinese medicine
• The peel is also used to treat abdominal distention, enhance digestion, and to reduce phlegm.

Production volume

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The "Clemenules" (or "Nules", the Valencian town where it was born) is a variety of clementine that accounts for the great majority of clementines produced in the world. Spain alone has over 200,000 acres (800 km²), producing fruit between November and January. Mandarins marketed as tangerines are usually Dancy, Sunburst or Murcott (Honey) cultivars.

Tangerines, Mandarins, clementines Top Ten Producers — 2005 (1000 tonnes)
China	11,395
Spain	2,125
Brazil	1,236
Japan	1,132
Iran	720
Turkey	715
Thailand	670
Egypt	665
Argentina	660
South Korea	639
Pakistan	639
World Total	24,000
Source: UN Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO), [1]

Processing

Canned mandarin segments are peeled to remove the white pith prior to canning; otherwise, they turn bitter. Segments are peeled using a chemical process. First, the segments are scalded in hot water to loosen the skin; then they are bathed in a lye solution which digests the albedo and membranes. Finally, the segments undergo several rinses in plain water.

Gallery

Mandarin orange tree

Closeup of Mandarin orange tree

Canned Mandarin orange segments

Milgam hwachae, a Korean fruit punch made with Mandarin orange and honey

See also

• Tangerine
• Satsuma
• Clementine
• Fairchild tangerine
• Tangelo
• Naartjie
• Kinnow Mandarin

References

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Citrus+reticulata

F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951 Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

A very readable book with information on about 100 species that can be grown in Britain (some in greenhouses) and details on how to grow and use them.

Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959

An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202

Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990

Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.

Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985

An excellent Chinese herbal giving information on over 500 species. Rather technical and probably best suited to the more accomplished user of herbs.

Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986

Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.

Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Citrus reticulata

• Mandarin Orange Nutrition Facts
• UC Riverside Mandarin Variety Descriptions
• Mandarin Orange - from Morton, J. (1987) Fruits of Warm Climates
• A Mandarin by Any Other Name by Cindy Fake, UC Davis Cooperative Extension