Rex Union grapefruit hybrid

Citrus paradisi Macfad. RUTACEAE

CRC 3962
PI 539490
VI 511

Source

Received as budwood from South Africa, 1985.

Parentage/origins

6/1989 Letter from Ian Gilfillan to W.P. Bitters (dated 8/30/82) states that Rex Union is believed to be a natural hybrid of Seville orange and shaddock.

Rootstocks of accession

Carrizo citrange, Citrus macrophylla

Season of ripeness at Riverside

February to June

Notes and observations

Discovered in about 1930 in South Africa. Not grown on a commercial scale. Few trees seen are not very vigorous and roundish in shape. Fruit is large, like grapefruit, and roundish in shape; the external color is a reddish-orange. This cultivar makes top quality marmalade; it is not eaten as fresh fruit. Makes excellent marmalade. The marmalade is ease to make because there are few seeds and it is not necessary to peel the fruit, but it is simply cut into pieces and boiled in a sugar and water mixture. (Info. from A.T.C. Lee)