Citrus reticulata Blanco

CRC 3960
PI 539536
VI 464

Source

Received as budwood from Australia, 1985.

Parentage/origins

Ellendale tangor originated in Queensland, Australia where it was found growing on the Ellendale property of E. A. Burridge as early as 1878. Today it is an important variety in parts of Australia as well as other citrus-growing regions of the world.

Rootstocks of accession

Carrizo citrange

Season of ripeness at Riverside

January to March

Notes and observations

The tree is medium to large in size, spreading, and has a tendency toward limb breakage as a result of weak crotches. Ellendale fruits are large in size and oblate in shape, with a thin, smooth, orange-red rind that is easily peeled. The flesh has an attractive dark orange color. The seeds are monoembryonic, and the seed content is variable with those grown in solid-block plantings being low-seeded and those grown in mixed-block plantings being very seedy. Ellendale fruits are especially juicy and the flavor is sweet and rich. The season of maturity is late midseason, but the rind is sometimes slow to develop full color.

Description from The Citrus Industry Vol. 1 (1967)
 

"Fruit medium large to large, oblate to subglobose; base rounded or short-necked; apex flat or slightly depressed; small navel frequent.  Rind medium-thin, smooth to faintly pebbled; relatively adherent though peelable at maturity; color orange-red.  Segments 10 to 12, readily separable; axis solid to semi-hollow.  Flesh bright orange-colored; very juicy; flavor rich and pleasantly subacid.  Moderately seedy with white cotyledons, and strongly monoembryonic.  Late midseason in maturity.  Loses quality rapidly if left on tree much past maturity, especially on rough lemon rootstock, but stores well.

Tree of medium vigor, spreading, round-topped, thornless, and productive.  Cold-resistant but subject to breakage because of weak crotches.

This Australian variety is reported (Bowman, 1956) to have originated about 1878 as a seedling on the Ellendale property of E. A. Burgess at Burrum, Queensland, but did not come into prominence until much more recently.  Both Bowman (1956) and R. J. Benton, former government citrus specialist in New South Wales, consider it to be a natural tangor and the latter has called attention to similarities with the Temple variety as he saw it in Florida.  It is sometimes incorrectly called Fagan or Grant.

In Queensland, Australia, where it is the principal variety, Ellendale attains maximum fruit size and excellent quality.  It is widely grown in New South Wales, however, and normally commands premium prices because of its large size, attractive color, and good keeping quality.  It is the latest maturing of the varieties currently grown commercially in Australia.

A selection named Hearne is said to produce fruit of somewhat larger size and less tightly adherent rind."

Availability

Commercially available in California through the Citrus Clonal Protection Program. Click here to order budwood.

USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network page for Ellendale tangor

CVC Fruit Quality Data for Ellendale tangor

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