List of citrus fruits

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits (/ˈsɪtrəs/; from the Latin citrus) are a genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. The most well-known examples include the orange, lemon, grapefruit, and lime.

Etymology

The term "citrus" is derived from the ancient Latin word citrus, which was used to describe the citron. It is believed that citrus fruits originated in Southeast Asia, where they have been cultivated for at least 4,000 years.

Types of Citrus Fruits

• Orange - The orange is a hybrid, between pomelo (Citrus maxima) and mandarin (Citrus reticulata). It has a sweet-tart taste and is commonly consumed fresh or in juice form.

• Lemon - The lemon is a species of small evergreen tree native to Asia, known for its sour fruit. The fruit's juice, pulp, and peel are used in a variety of foods and drinks.

• Grapefruit - The grapefruit is a subtropical citrus tree known for its relatively large sour to semi-sweet fruit. Grapefruit is a hybrid originating in Barbados as an accidental cross between the sweet orange (C. sinensis) and pomelo (or shaddock; C. maxima).

• Lime - Limes are a small citrus fruit, whose skin and flesh are green in color and which have an acidic juice vesicles. There are several species of citrus trees whose fruits are called limes.

• Tangerine - Tangerines are a variety of citrus fruit which is closely related to the mandarin orange.

• Pomelo - The pomelo is the largest citrus fruit from the family Rutaceae and the principal ancestor of the grapefruit.

• Mandarin - The mandarin orange, also known as the mandarin or mandarine, is a small citrus tree with fruit resembling other oranges.

Related Terms

• Rutaceae - The family of plants to which citrus fruits belong.
• Vitamin C - A nutrient prominently found in citrus fruits.
• Flavonoid - A type of plant metabolite thought to provide health benefits through cell signalling pathways and antioxidant effects. Citrus fruits are a rich source of flavonoids.

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