Grapefruit
Citrus paradisi
Family: Rutaceae
What it is like
Probably a natural hybrid between sweet orange and pomelo. A medium sized evergreen tree up to 10-15 m high. They spread 5 m across. The stem is stout and crooked. The branches hang down giving a rounded crown. The thorns are small. The leaves are dark shiny green and sword shaped. They can be 18 cm long. The leaves are leathery and they have rounded teeth along the edge. The leaf stalk usually has a broad wing. The flowers are creamy white and large. The flowers occur either singly or in clusters (2-20) in the axils of leaves. The flowers are 4-5 cm across. The fruit are large, yellow and in clusters. Fruit can be 9-15 cm across. Fruit are very juicy with a sweet-sour pulp. The juice sacs are large but closely packed. There are many cultivated varieties.
There are 20 Citrus species. Several hybrids have been formed.
Where it is found
A subtropical plant. Plants grow from sea level up to 1,800 m altitude in the tropics. They are frost tender. Plants prefer well-drained soils and a protected sunny position. Plants are drought tender. They do best in humid climates. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, East Africa, Ecuador, Europe, Fiji, French Guiana, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guam, Guianas, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin), Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The fruit is eaten as fresh fruit, or the juice is used in drinks. They are made into marmalade. The juice can be used for vinegar or wine. The peel is candied. The essential oil from the peel is used for flavouring drinks and desserts. The oil from the seed is bleached and refined into a culinary oil. Caution: Grapefruit can react dangerously with some medications, increasing the effect of the medicine.
Becoming popular around the world. Not widely grown in Papua New Guinea. It is a cultivated food plant.
Edible parts
Fruit, herb
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed. The seed should be sown fresh. Often seedling trees breed true. Trees are best grown by layering or grafting. A spacing of 6-8 m is suitable.
Seedling trees take 3-5 years to produce while grafted trees take 2-3 years. Fruiting tends to be seasonal from April to August in the Southern hemisphere. Fruit take 6-8 months to mature. A healthy tree can produce 100 fruit in a year. Fruit can be left on the tree for 3 months after they first ripen.
Its other names
Local names
Bombelmo, Chakotra, Dat-kywegaw, Kureip-purutu, Kuripa, Lawi hkaw, Lemu yamiku, Pu tao you, Shauk-hka, Shauk-waing, Taraja, Toronja
Synonyms
Probably now Citrus x aurantium Grapefruit group; Citrus decumana L. var. racemosa Roem.; Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck var. racemosa (Roem.) B. C. Stone;