Mandarin orange

Mandarins

Plant Info

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Sublass:	Rosidae
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Rutaceae
Genus:	Citrus
Species:	C. reticulata

Binomial name

Citrus reticulata

The Mandarin orange or mandarin (瓯柑) is a small citrus tree (Citrus reticulata) with fruit resembling the orange. The fruit is oblate, rather than 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 tangerines, 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 satsuma variety, of which there are over 200 cultivars. 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. Clementines, 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 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

Tangerines, Mandarins, clementines Top Ten Producers — 2005 (1000 tonnes)
Template:CHN	11,395
Template:ESP	2,125
Template:BRA	1,236
Template:JPN	1,132
Template:IRN	720
Template:TUR	715
Template:THA	670
Template:EGY	665
Template:ARG	660
Template:PAK	639
World Total	24,000
Source: UN Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO), [1]

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.

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.

Mandarin orange tree
Closeup of Mandarin orange tree
Mandarin orange segments

External links

Template:Commons

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