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Characteristics of Pomelo Tree (Citrus grandis) in the Wild

Published by: Admin on December 23, 2021
Categorized in: Fruit Tree

Pomelo or Big Orange (Citrus grandis) is a citrus tree with the largest fruit. The tree can adapt well to dry areas and is relatively disease-resistant, especially CVPD (Citrus Vein Phloem Degeneration) which once destroyed citrus farming in Indonesia.

Citrus grandis or Citrus maxima is the same name for Pomelo. In each country, the common name used to refer to pomelo is different, for example in Indonesia it is known as Jeruk Bali, in Barbados Shaddock, in Nepal Bhogat, and in Hawaii Jabong and Jambola.

Pomelos are commonly consumed and used for celebratory occasions throughout Southeast Asia. It has a sweet, slightly sour taste (depending on the variety) and the flesh has the same fiber as regular oranges, only that they are larger. Pomelos contain relatively few seeds, but some varieties have many seeds.

POMELO IN FOOD AND DRINK

Pomelos can be consumed fresh or made into juices and other dishes, and the skin of the fruit is used to make sweets.

In the Philippines, pomelo is a pink drink made from grapefruit and pineapple juice.

In Brazil, the thick skin of the pomelo is used to make long-lasting sweets, while the pith from the skin is discarded.

In Sri Lanka, pomelo is often eaten as a dessert, sometimes sprinkled with sugar for added sweetness.

In much of Southeast Asia, pomelo is a common dessert and is often sprinkled or dipped in a salt mixture when consumed.

Characteristics of Pomelo Leaf

Citrus grandis Leaf — Source: flickr.com/Forest and Kim Starr

Leaves alternate, ovate or elliptical, 5-20 cm long, leathery, top layer dull green, and underside hairy.

Characteristics of Pomelo Flower

Citrus grandis Flower — Source: inaturalist.org/itsmeseann-

The flowers are single or in groups, fragrant, and whitish-yellow.

Characteristics of Pomelo Fruit

Citrus grandis Fruit — Source: flickr.com/Tai Lung Aik

The fruit is large, 15-25 cm in diameter, and usually weighs 1-2 kg. The skin of the fruit is thick and is divided into 11 to 18 segments. When young the fruit is green and turns yellow when ripe.

The pomelo fruit is very similar to the calabash fruit (Crescentia cujete). However, the calabash fruit has a smooth and shiny skin while the pomelo has a rough or wrinkle-like skin.

Characteristics of Pomelo Tree

Citrus grandis Tree — Source: flickr.com/shankar s.

The pomelo tree grows as a small tree, perhaps 5-6 meters tall, with many twisted trunks 20-30 cm thick, and low-hanging irregular branches.

Pomelo trees love deep soil that has plenty of nutrients and water. Although it can tolerate slightly barren soil and dry areas, suitable soil will allow it to produce a lot of fruit.

Many pomelo trees are grown for ornamental and shade in the yard or planted to harvest their sweet and sour fruit.

HOW TO CULTIVATE POMELO TREE

Pomelo trees can be propagated by planting from seed (not recommended for cultivation) and by grafting.