View source for Mandarin orange

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Mandarin orange
| image = Madarines white bg.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Mandarins
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| subclassis = [[Rosidae]]
| ordo = [[Sapindales]]
| familia = [[Rutaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Citrus]]''
| species = '''''C. reticulata'''''
| binomial = ''Citrus reticulata''
}}

The '''Mandarin orange''' or '''mandarin''' (瓯柑) is a small [[citrus]] tree (''Citrus reticulata'') with fruit resembling the [[Orange (fruit)|orange]]. The fruit is [[Spheroid|oblate]], rather than [[Sphere|spherical]], and roughly resembles a [[pumpkin]] in shape. Mandarin oranges are usually eaten plain, or in fruit salads. Specifically reddish orange mandarin cultivars can be marketed as  [[tangerine]]s, but this is not a botanical classification.

The tree is more tolerant to drought 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 mandarin has many names, some of which actually refer to crosses between the mandarin and another citrus fruit. Most canned mandarins are of the [[Mikan|satsuma]] variety, of which there are over 200 [[cultivar]]s. Satsumas are known as ''[[mikan]]'' in [[Japan]]. One of the more well-known satsuma cultivars is the "Owari", which ripens during the late fall season in the [[Northern Hemisphere]]. [[Clementine]]s, however, have displaced satsumas in many markets, and are becoming the most important commercial mandarin variety.

The mandarin is easily peeled with the fingers, starting at the thin rind covering the depression at the top of the fruit, and can be easily spilt into even segments without spilling juice. This makes it convenient to eat, as one doesn't require utensils 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 thin [[rind]] is easy to peel; and its pale orange pulp is spicy, full-flavored, and tart.

The [[Rangpur (fruit)|rangpur]] is a cross between the mandarin and the [[lemon]].

=== Biological characteristics ===

Citrus fruit 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, for example, are an 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.

==Ethnomedical 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 ==
{| class="wikitable" align=right <!--style="clear:left"-->
! colspan=2|Tangerines, Mandarins, [[clementines]] <br/>Top Ten Producers — 2005  (1000 tonnes)
|-
| {{CHN}} || align="right" | 11,395
|-
| {{ESP}} || align="right" | 2,125
|-
| {{BRA}}  || align="right" | 1,236
|-
| {{JPN}} || align="right" | 1,132
|-
| {{IRN}} || align="right" | 720
|-
| {{TUR}} || align="right" | 715
|-
| {{THA}}|| align="right" | 670
|-
| {{EGY}} || align="right" | 665
|-
| {{ARG}} || align="right" | 660
|-
| {{PAK}} || align="right" | 639
|-
|'''World Total''' || align="right" | '''24,000'''
|-
|colspan=2|''Source: <br>[[UN Food & Agriculture Organisation]] (FAO)'', [http://faostat.fao.org/site/340/default.aspx]
|}

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.

<!--== Production ==-->

== 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>
Image:Mandarin_orange_tree.jpg|Mandarin orange tree
Image:Mandarin_tree_closeup.JPG|Closeup of Mandarin orange tree
Image:Mandarin oranges canned.jpg|Mandarin orange segments
</gallery>

== External links ==

{{Commons|Citrus reticulata}}

* [http://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/mandarins.html UC Riverside Mandarin Variety Descriptions]
* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/mandarin_orange.html Mandarin Orange - from Morton, J. (1987) Fruits of Warm Climates]
* [http://mountainmandarins.com/documents/10Oct2005-MMGA.pdf A Mandarin by Any Other Name] by Cindy Fake, UC Davis Cooperative Extension
[[Category:Citrus]]