Descriptions and Comments.
Citrus aurantium L. Orange.
A tree 7.5 to 12 meters in height, with a compact, conical head; bark grayish brown; thorns generally present, 12 to 50 millimeters long, sharp, stout; leaves oval or ovate oblong, 7.5 to 10 centimeters long, smooth, shining, somewhat lighter below than above, margins entire, or very slightly serrate; petiole 12 to 25 millimeters long, slightly winged (occasionally with quite a broad wing); flowers axillary in clusters of one to six, white, sweet scented, smaller than those of C. vulgaris; calyx cupped; sepals four to five, awl-shaped, thick, greenish, persistent; petals usually five, oblong, 25 to 31 millimeters long, thick, fleshy, recurved; stamens twenty to twenty-five, hypogenous, filaments flattened, united in groups, shorter than the petals; pistil distinctly divided into stigma, style and ovary; stigma knob-like; style long and slender; ovary rounded, 10 to 14 loculed; fruit globose to oblate, light orange to reddish; rind smooth; pulp juicy, subacid; juice sacs spindle shaped, sometimes larger than those of C. vulgaris; seeds few or many, oblong ovoid, planoconvex, generally broad, wedged or pointed at the micropylar end, marked with oblique ridges surrounding one or two plain areas. Native to China or Cochin China.
While the orange is nowhere planted in orchards it is fairly well distributed. Judging from the prevalence of the citrus fruits in the markets in the various parts of the Archipelago it ranks fifth in production, as compared with the mandarin, pomelo, lime, and calamondin, the only citrus fruits beside the orange that may claim to be of any economic importance even from a Philippine point of view. Excepting a few budded trees of recent importation or distribution by the Bureau of Agriculture all trees are seedlings and nearly always the fruit is poor in quality.
So far as noted, there are no variations worthy of notice.
Citrus vulgaris Risso. Sour Orange.
(Seville orange, Bigarade orange.)
A small tree, 6 to 9 meters in height, with a dense compact head; young shoots light green, thorny; thorns alternate, small, sharp and pointed, on older wood larger, strong, stiff; leaves unifoliate, evergreen, alternate, ovate, pointed, strongly and peculiarly scented; petiole 12 to 18 millimeters long, broadly winged; flowers in small, axillary cymes, white, strongly sweet scented, somewhat larger than those of C. aurantium; calyx cupped, segments 4 to 5, blunt; petals linear oblong, conspicuously dotted with oil cells; stamens 20 to 24; filaments united in groups; pistil club shaped, smooth; ovary 6 to 14 loculed; fruit orange colored or frequently reddish when well matured, inclined to be rough; rind strongly aromatic, bitter; pulp acid; juice sacs spindle shaped, rather small; seeds flattened and wedged toward the micropylar end, marked with ridged lines. Native to southeastern Asia, probably in Cochin China. Hardier than the sweet orange.
Samples of what seems to be the sour orange have been received from Davao, Mindanao.
Citrus nobilis Lour. Mandarin.
A small tree 3.6 to 6 meters in height, with a dense head of upright or willowy, drooping branches; bark dark brownish or streaked with gray; branchlets light green or dark in color, small, slender, round or angled, thornless, or provided with small sharp spines; leaves small, lanceolate to oval, slightly crenate; petioles short, wingless, or with very small wings; flowers terminating the branchlets or axillary, sometimes clustered, 18 to 25 millimeters across, sweet scented; calyx small, shallow, cupped, the petals small; petals white, fleshy, recurved; stamens 18 to 23 in number, shorter than the petals; pistil small, resembling that of C. aurantium; ovary 9 to 15 loculed; fruit distinctly oblate, orange to reddish in color; pulp sweet or subacid; juice sacs broad and blunt; seeds top shaped, beaked, cotyledons pistache green; embryos one or more; sections separating readily from each other and from the rind; rind thin, oil cell somewhat balloon shaped or oval. Native to Cochin China. Generally admitted to be somewhat hardier than the sweet orange.
The mandarin is the only species in the genus Citrus that has been at all systematically planted and cared for, even though this mostly consists in the planting the trees, now and then the clearing away of the weeds with cutlasses and the harvesting of the fruit. Nevertheless the quality of the fruit is uniform and very good.
The mandarin district of the Philippines is confined to a small area principally around Santo Tomás and Tanauan, in the Province of Batangas, and, excepting imported fruit, all mandarins marketed in the Philippines are grown in the above-mentioned region. Scattered trees are found in most parts of the Archipelago. Aside from the tizon, which is described later, and which it is believed may be referred to this species, there are no well-defined varieties of the mandarin.
Citrus nobilis var. papillaris Blanco. Tizon.
A spreading, small tree, attaining a height of 6 meters or more, in habit similar to the pomelo; spines small, or wanting; leaves 10 to 14 centimeters long, 5 to 6 centimeters broad, ovate to elliptical oblong, crenate, dark-green and shining above, crinkly, base broadly acute, apex narrowly acute to almost acuminate and caudate; petioles 17 to 20 millimeters long with narrow wing margin; flowers not seen; fruit large from 6 to 10 centimeters in diameter, 170 to 580 grams in weight, somewhat compressed at basal half, usually ending in a more or less conspicuous nipple which, however, is sometimes wanting; apex flattened, or even depressed; surface smooth, pale greenish turning to orange yellow; skin medium thin; locules 10 to 11, separable from each other and the skin like the mandarin; pulp yellowish, subacid, very juicy, and of good flavor with marked “quinine” taste; juice cells large; seeds very few, rarely more than 7.
The tizon is extremely rare and only a few trees are found in cultivation, confined to the citrus district of Batangas, Luzon. The trees are said to be quite prolific, and the fruit matures from September to December. This fruit, on account of its scarcity, is of no commercial importance. However, it would be an acceptable dessert or breakfast fruit, being a little more acid than the orange. It is said to be an introduction from Spain. The tizon is without doubt the C. papillaris described by Blanco in “Flora Filipinas.”
The tizon is believed to be a natural hybrid between the mandarin and the pomelo. It has inherited the loose-skinned character, large juice cells, and partial absence of spines, and leaf character of the first-named species to which it is (without the writer having had the opportunity to examine the flowers) unquestionably more closely related than to any other species in the genus. The tizon is represented in the citrus collection at the Lamao experiment station under Bureau of Agriculture No. 744 and 745.
Citrus decumana L. Pomelo.
A tree 6 to 12 meters in height, with a rounded or conical head, and a trunk upwards of 45 centimeters in diameter; bark smooth, grayish brown; young leaves and shoots sparsely pubescent, light green; leaves ovate, blunt, pointed or rounded, emarginate, smooth, dark, glossy green, leathery, margin crenate; petioles articulated, broadly winged; flowers produced singly or in cymose clusters of 2 to 20, sweet scented; calyx cupped, large; sepals 4 to 5, pointed; corolla white, 37 to 43 millimeters across; petals 4 to 5, slightly reflexed, fleshy, oblong; stamens 20 to 25; anthers large, abundantly supplied with pollen, proterandrous; pistil stout; stigma when ripe covered with a sticky, milky fluid; ovary 11 to 14 loculed; fruit large, oblate, globose or pyriform, light lemon or orange colored; flesh grayish or pink; juice sacs large, spindle shaped; flavor a mingling of acid, bitterness and sweetness or subacid; seeds large, light colored, wedge shaped or irregular, with prominent ridges surrounding broad, flat areas. Native to the Polynesian and Malayan Archipelagos.
The pomelo is the most widely distributed species in the genus, but here as in the orange the quality of practically all the fruit is wretchedly poor, dry and insipid with a very thick skin. With the exception of the panuban, described below, there are no variations worthy of notice in this genus.
Citrus decumana L. Pomelo, var. Panuban.
A spiny tree, 3 to 4 meters tall of robust growth; young growth pubescent; leaves 12 to 17 centimeters long, 4.7 to 8 centimeters wide, oblong ovate, crenate, coriaceous; base rounded; petiole 15 to 23 millimeters long, wing margins narrow, at most 18 millimeters broad, and cuneiform; flowers not seen; fruit 5.7 centimeters long, 7 centimeters in transverse diameter, oblate, with shallow apical cavity; surface smooth, lemon yellow; skin very thin; pulp contained in 11 to 12 locules, yellowish, fairly juicy, subacid, acidity and sweetness well blended, aromatic and well flavored; seeds large, polyembryonic.
The panuban is said to bloom about New Year and the fruit ripens in September to November; the trees are reported to be very prolific. The panuban has been reported only from Lias, Bontoc, where half a dozen trees are said to grow. Possibly the panuban may be an accidental hybrid between the pomelo and the orange or mandarin; if it is simply a mutation it is certainly one of the most striking in this species. However this may be, the pomelo character is strongly dominant in both the foliage and the fruit. Very well flavored, the fruit is too dry to be acceptable to a discriminating public, but it is not improbable that under cultivation the juiciness would increase. In such a case the panuban might become a fruit of commercial importance.
B. A. No. 5160 (Lias, Bontoc).
Citrus mitis Blanco. Calamondin.
A small, somewhat spiny tree, 4 to 6 meters tall; young growth greenish; leaves elliptic oblong, 4 to 9 centimeters long and about 4 centimeters wide, crenulate; base acute; apex usually emarginate; petiole scarcely winged, 10 to 15 millimeters long; flowers axillary, solitary, rarely in pairs, 21 millimeters in diameter, fragrant; petals white, reflexed; stamens 18 to 20, unequal; filaments united into groups; ovary globose, 6 to 8 loculed; style slender, distinct; stigma knoblike; fruit globose, orange yellow, 2 to 4 centimeters in diameter; skin smooth, thin, brittle, separable from the flesh; pulp orange colored, juicy, acid, with distinct aroma; juice cells rather large, short, and blunt; seeds comparatively large, smooth, plump, sometimes beaked; polyembryonic.
The calamondin is widely distributed in the Philippines and occurs wild as well as cultivated. The plant makes an attractive, ornamental, small tree and the fruit may be made into marmalade or utilized in making ade. There are no particularly distinct forms of this species. The trees are almost invariably very prolific and almost everbearing. In Bohol the species is known as “limoncito.”
B. A. No. 2332 (Tanauan, Batangas).
Citrus webberii. Alsem.
A shrubby tree with small, sharp spines; leaves averaging 95 millimeters in length, and 32 millimeters in width, oblong-ovate, crenulate, dark green and shining above; base broadly acute; apex emarginate, petiole 27 millimeters long; wings rarely exceeding 12 millimeters in width; flowers terminal, rarely axillary, solitary, 20 millimeters in diameter, sweet scented; calyx small; petals white, reflexed; stamens 19 to 21, about equal; filaments united into groups of several; ovary small, obovoid, 7 to 11 loculed; style distinct, slender; stigma small, club shaped; fruit sometimes attaining a weight of 165 grams, form oblate, 58 millimeters long to 65 millimeters long to 66 across, to roundish oblate, sometimes compressed and wrinkled toward base ending in a pronounced nipple; apex a shallow depression, or mammilate with the circular depression more or less pronounced; surface smooth to fairly smooth; color greenish yellow to lemon yellow, lenticels few, depressed; skin thin, the “kid-glove” character more or less pronounced; flesh whitish to grayish, very juicy, aromatic; juice cells variable, from short and blunt to medium slender and tapering to one end; seeds ovate, flattened, smooth, sometimes beaked.
Plants of the alsem have never been seen by the writer in the provinces, the description of the plant having been made from budded plants growing at Lamao, propagated from material collected in Bulacan. The trees have a long flowering season, as fruits are offered in Manila throughout the summer to late in autumn. The variation in the fruit is very great, some being of little value, while others are extremely thin skinned, well flavored, juicy, aromatic, with less rag than perhaps any citrus fruit that has been examined by the writer. The floral characters correspond closely to those of the mandarin, which the fruit in some forms also resembles in appearance and in its loose-skinned character. Flavor and aroma place the alsem in close relationship with the cabuyao, C. histrix, and it is a curious fact that the Tagalogs always call it “cabuyao.” In common with the cabuyao it is frequently infested with the rindborer, Prays citri, while the mandarin is practically immune to this pest.
An analysis made by the Bureau of Science in November, 1912, of alsem fruits purchased by the writer in Manila gave the following results:
| Weight of— | Grams. |
| Fruit | 56.5 |
| Peel | 15 |
| Seed | 1.5 |
| Pulp (rag) | 13.5 |
| Juice | 26.5 |
Analysis of juice.
| Per cent. | |
| Acidity (citric) | 5.41 |
| Sucrose | None. |
| Sugar | 2.41 |
| Protein | .33 |
| Ash | .39 |
Analysis of pulp.
| Per cent. | |
| Acidity (citric) | 2.73 |
| Protein | 1.03 |
| Ash | .58 |
The alsem was considered a variety of the mandarin in Bulletin No. 27, Plate IV, but a closer study of the plant and fruit shows that it differs so greatly from all other Philippine species of the genus as to be entitled to specific rank, and it has been named in honor of Dr. H. J. Webber, director of the citrus experiment station, Riverside, California, the association with whom, in connection with his citrus and pineapple breeding work, more than any other cause influenced the writer to take up the improvement of tropical economic plants.
The Bontoc local name “alsem” is here proposed as the vernacular name for C. webberii. In previous publications by the writer it was called the “mandarin lime,” which is hardly suitable, however, since while it has certain resemblances to the mandarin yet is distinct from it, and again, its only resemblance to the lime lies in its acidity and ade-making qualities; moreover the name “mandarin lime” is too long for popular use.
B. A. No. 853 (Bulacan), 2275 (Manila), 4292 (Bontoc).
Citrus webberii var. montana. Cabugao.
A shrubby tree with slender branches and small, weak spines, sometimes absent; young growth green; leaves 8.5 to 14 centimeters long, 3 to 3.5 centimeters broad, ovate to ovate oblong, crenate, dark green above, shining; base broadly acute to rounded; apex blunt pointed, usually retuse; petiole 24 to 38 millimeters long, with narrow wing margin, in large leaves sometimes 17 millimeters broad; flowers not seen; fruit roundish oblate, about 45 millimeters across, somewhat corrugate, 8 loculed.
Budwood and fruits of the cabugao were forwarded to the Bureau by Mr. A. M. Burton, from the Mountain Province. The writer did not have the opportunity of examining the fruit, of which, however, an excellent photograph was made, and, to date of writing the plants at Lamao not having bloomed there has been no chance to examine the floral characters. The general character of the plant and fruit indicates that the cabugao is a form of the alsem.
Through a typographical error in Bulletin No. 27, Plate XVI (a), the cabugao is credited to Bohol.
B. A. No. 2266 (Benguet, Mountain Province).
Citrus longispina. Talamisan.
An arborescent, very thorny shrub about 5 meters tall, with numerous suckers and interlocking branches, the spines on the stems frequently 10 centimeters long; young growth bright green, nearly always angular; leaves 6.5 to 10 centimeters long, 3 to 4.8 centimeters broad, ovate to broadly elliptical, crenate; base obtuse to broadly acute; apex acute to rounded, usually emarginate; petioles 19 to 25 millimeters long, rather narrowly winged, though in large leaves the wings are up to 18 millimeters broad; flowers not seen; fruit roundish, somewhat flattened at apex, 58 millimeters in diameter, smooth, deep lemon colored; skin thin; locules 11 to 15; pulp very juicy, mildly acid, with a tinge of orange yellow, aromatic and pleasantly flavored; juice cells large, plump, blunt or pointed at one end; seeds rather few, of medium size, fairly plump, more or less reticulate, polyembryonic, and of poor germinating qualities.
The talamisan is exceedingly rare, and is found in cultivation in Bohol (one plant has been seen in Cebu) and is fairly productive. Excepting the mandarin, which is also of rare occurrence, it is much superior to all other citrus fruits grown in these two islands, and is eaten by the inhabitants; it is nevertheless very rare and of no economic importance at present. The fruit ripens in January and February, and is a poor keeper. Introduced into cultivation, the fruit of the talamisan could to advantage be used as an ade fruit, and with a little sugar it would make a good breakfast fruit. The dense growth of the plant, with numerous suckers, armed also with formidable spines, would make it a good live fence.
The talamisan, or tamisan as it is also called, is one of the most interesting citrus fruits that has come to the attention of the writer. Its angular growth, formidable spines, broad, sometimes almost orbicular, distinct leaves and fruit easily distinguish the talamisan from all other species in the genus.
B. A. No. 2529, 4833 (Bohol).
Citrus macrophylla. Alemow.
A tree attaining a height of 6 meters, of upright growth, and rather long, stout, sharp spines; leaves 14 to 18 centimeters long, 6 to 8 centimeters wide, elliptical to ovate, crenate to serrate; base rounded; apex acute; petioles 18 to 40 millimeters long, broadly winged, wings frequently exceeding 35 millimeters in width; flowers 4 to 7, in compact cymes, sessile, 18 to 22 millimeters in diameter; calyx cupped; petals 4 to 5, oblong; stamens 26 to 30; filaments nearly always free; ovary small, 13 to 16 loculed; style distinct; stigma club shaped, small; fruit 85 to sometimes exceeding 100 millimeters in length, attaining a weight of 500 to 800 grams, subglobose to roundish oblong, more or less compressed towards base, which is nippled and with stem inserted in a shallow cavity; apex flattened with a circular depression around the raised stigmatic area; surface greenish lemon yellow, rather rough, with transverse corrugations; oil cells small, sunken; skin comparatively thin; pulp grayish, rather dry, sharply acid, lemon flavored; juice cells rather slender, long, and pointed; seed medium large, short and plump, smooth, sometimes beaked.
The alemow is a very rare fruit occurring in cultivation in Cebu, and considered inedible even by the natives. The description of the flowers was made from fresh specimens collected in May. The tree is said to bloom later in the year during the rainy season having then larger flowers. Partly grown fruit was then seen on the tree and since mature fruit has been examined by the writer from December to late in February the alemow is evidently nearly if not quite everbearing.
The principal distinguishing features in this species are the large, broad leaves, the comparatively short but quite broad-winged petioles, the free rarely united filaments, and the quite large, peculiarly shaped fruit; it is thus apparently one of the links between the two branches of the genus, one of which has the filaments more or less united and the other the filaments free, being in the first group most closely related to the pomelo.
The alemow was first forwarded to the writer under the name of colo: Bulletin 27, Plate XIV.
B. A. No. 2510, 2377, 3677, 4820 (Cebu).
Citrus southwickii. Limao.
A thorny tree, with dense head and drooping branches, attaining a height of 6 meters; spines small but sharp, leaves 9.5 to 14 centimeters long, 36 to 53 millimeters broad, ovate to roundish ovate, conspicuously crenate, dark green and shining above, leathery; base acute; apex acute to obtuse, frequently emarginate; petioles 35 to 70 millimeters long, the wings 25 to 30 millimeters broad in large leaves, the average wing area somewhat less than half of the leaf blade; flowers 2 to 6, in compact axillary or terminal cymes, sometimes solitary, 14 to 20 millimeters in diameter, white, with trace of purple on the outside; calyx very small; stamens 22 to 28, free; ovary globose to oblate; locules 15 to 19; stigma almost sessile; fruit 45 to 55 millimeters long, 55 to 65 millimeters in equatorial diameter, oblate, with shallow cavity at apex, smooth, with slight longitudinal corrugations; lenticels sparse, small; oil cells usually raised; skin thin; pulp fairly juicy, sharply acid, bitter, with distinct aroma from C. histrix; juice cells short, plump, granulate, small, containing a small, greenish nucleus; seeds numerous.
The limao, though rare, is not uncommon in Bohol, where it is cultivated and has also been collected by the writer in Baganga, Mindanao. The flowers appear late in April and during the early part of May, with the fruit ripening in January and February; a few fruits nearly full grown were collected in May. No. 2049 has flowered irregularly from May to December. The fruit is not eaten, but used in washing by the Boholanos and is of no economic importance. The tree is evidently quite drought resistant, and succeeds well in very scanty soil underlaid with limestone.
The limao belongs in that group of the citrus fruits having free filaments, the most conspicuous characters being the compact growth of the crown, the dark-green, thick, and distinct leaves, the almost sessile stigma, and the attractive, oblate, regular-shaped fruit with its many locules, exceeding in number those in all other citrus fruits known to the writer. This species has been named in honor of Mr. E. F. Southwick, elsewhere referred to in the paper.
B. A. No. 2049 (Baganga, Mindanao), 2504, 4823 (Bohol).
Citrus histrix DC. Cabuyao.
Fig. 1. Seedling of C. histrix DC., illustrating the distinct supraterraneous cotyledons.
A thorny tree, sometimes exceeding 6.5 meters in height; spines medium large and sharp; leaves 13.5 to 18 centimeters long, 4 to 6 centimeters broad, ovate to oblong ovate, coriaceous, dark green and shining above, crenate; base rounded to broadly acute; apex acute, sometimes emarginate; petiole 5.5 to 8 centimeters long, broadly margined, sometimes 4.5 centimeters wide, wing area inferior or equal to sometimes exceeding leaf area; flowers 4 to 7, in axillary or terminal, compact cymes, 17 to 28 millimeters in diameter; calyx small, not cupped; petals 4 to 5, oblong ovate, white, with trace of purple on the outside; stamens 30 to 36, equal, free, with abundant pollen; ovary rather large, globose, 13 to 18 loculed; style short and stout; stigma knob like; fruit subglobose to short pyriform or turbinate, attaining a length of 9 centimeters and a diameter of 7 centimeters; surface smooth; color greenish yellow to lemon yellow; rind medium thick; pulp greenish, juicy, sharply acid, aromatic; juice sacs rather short and blunt, usually containing a more or less distinct nucleus; seeds usually many, flat, reticulate.
This fruit, commonly called cabuyao by the Tagalogs in central Luzon, is without question the “copahan” of Bohol. Near Manila the tree has been found in flower in September, while in Bohol flowers were collected in May. The fruit may be used in making ade, but is inferior to the lemon or lime. The native inhabitants eat it together with fish, and also use the fruit in washing. It is of practically no importance.
The “amongpong,” found in Bohol, and considered a distinct fruit from the copahan by the native inhabitants, differs chiefly in having only 26 to 30 stamens, and a large oblate ovary with a short and slender style. The first has not been examined by the writer and is said to be smooth and short, pyriform, 10 centimeters in diameter. Flowers examined in May.
“Calo-oy” is another fruit also found in Bohol considered by the inhabitants as distinct from the “copahan” and “amongpong.” The leaf characters in the calo-oy scarcely differ sufficiently to entitle it to rank even as a subspecies; the flowers were just gone when the visit was made to Bohol. The fruit is said to be globose, smooth and about 8 centimeters in diameter.
“Amontay” ([Pl. IVb]) is still another form of C. histrix found in Bohol. This plant was also out of its flowering stage at the time of the visit. The fruit, forwarded to the writer in February by Mr. Southwick, is about 88 millimeters in diameter, irregularly globose, with flattened or depressed base, and rounded apex, smooth, lemon yellow; oil cells mostly raised; skin thick; the pulp, contained in 10 to 12 locules, juicy, and rather pleasantly aromatic; juice cells medium large, short and plump, containing a minute, greenish nucleus; cotyledons supraterraneous, distinct.
So far as observed, the amongpong, amontay and the calo-oy are not sufficiently distinct from the cabuyao to entitle them even to rank as subspecies.
The various forms above referred to are in the Bureau of Agriculture citrus collection at Lamao, represented as follows: Cabuyao, No. 739 (Lamao); copahan, No. 2570, 4835 (Bohol); amongpong, No. 2496, 4831 (Bohol); calo-oy, No. 4822 (Bohol); amontay, No. 2501, 4830 (Bohol).
Citrus histrix var. boholensis. Canci.
A small tree, rarely exceeding 4 meters in height, with compact crown and small, sharp spines; leaves 9 to 12 centimeters long, 30 to 45 millimeters broad, ovate to elliptical ovate, crenulate, coriaceous; base broadly acute; apex acute to acuminate; petioles 35 to 45 millimeters long, 25 to 30 millimeters wide, wing area less than one-half of leaf area; flowers 2 to 6 in compact axillary cymes; petals white, with purplish tinge outside; stamens 20 to 23, equal, free; ovary quite large, oblate; locules 11 to 14; style short, distinct; stigma knob like; fruit 39 millimeters long, 46 millimeters in transverse diameter, oblate, smooth, lemon yellow; oil cells numerous, uniform, raised; skin medium thick; pulp quite juicy with very pronounced acidity; juice cells short, plump, and granular; seeds many, wedge shaped, monoembryonic; cotyledons supraterraneous.
The canci is found in cultivation in Bohol and is rather rare. Flowers were collected in May, and ripe fruits have been examined in January. The fruit is eaten with fish by the Filipinos, but is really so little grown that it has no economic importance. The fruit makes a fairly good ade.
While the canci undoubtedly belongs to C. histrix yet an examination of its parts shows that it is very distinct from that species as already described. In the leaves, the comparatively short petioles with small, cuneiform wings, as compared with the oblong-spatulate, broad-winged petioles in the cabuyao, etc., is very noticeable; the stamens are 20 to 23 only in the canci, while the locules are 11 to 14, and the fruit is shorter than broad unlike that in C. histrix. Everything considered the plant is apparently an intermediate type between C. histrix and C. webberii.
B. A. No. 2525, 4824 (Bohol).
Citrus histrix var. torosa Blanco. Colobot.
A spiny tree, attaining a height of 6 or more meters; young growth green with a tinge of purple; leaves 9 to 13 centimeters long, 3.5 to 5.5 centimeters broad, ovate to short ovate, bicrenate, dark green and glossy; base rounded, apex emarginate; petiole 4 to 7.5 centimeters long, 2.9 to 5 centimeters wide, oblong, with a broadly acute to obtuse base; wing area nearly equal to or frequently exceeding the leaf area; flowers 20 millimeters across, in axillary clusters of 2 to 6; pedicel slender; calyx small, not cupped; petals 4 to 5, white, with a tinge of purple on the outside; stamens 21 to 26, free, equal; ovary subglobose, 3 millimeters long, 11 to 14 loculed; style short, 1 millimeter long, distinct; fruit 48 to 55 millimeters long, and about 50 millimeters in transverse diameter, irregularly globose to oblate, usually compressed towards base, ending in a small nipple, more or less wrinkled, greenish lemon yellow; pulp greenish, fairly juicy, acid, scarcely edible; juice cells small, short, containing a small greenish nucleus; seeds small, oblong, reticulate.
This plant is the C. torosa of Blanco, which has been considered a synonym of C. histrix, and here raised to the rank of a subspecies. A comparative study of C. histrix and the variety torosa shows considerable differences between the two. C. histrix is generally larger in all parts; the wings of C. h. torosa are oblong, maintaining an almost equal width over a large part of the petiole, ending in a rounded to a broadly acute base, while in C. histrix, and in fact in all the species herein described with free stamens, the wings are more or less cuneate to elongate cuneate or oblong-spatulate, ending usually in an acuminate, sometimes an acute base, the one closest approaching the C. h. torosa in this respect being the “balincolong,” referred to C. micrantha. The flower of C. h. torosa corresponds with that of C. histrix except that the former has 21 to 26 stamens as compared with 30 to 36 in C. histrix, which also averages more locules to a fruit.
B. A. No. 3665, 3666 (Batangas).
Citrus micrantha. Biasong.
A tree attaining a height of 7.5 to 9 meters, with comparatively small but sharp spines; leaves 9 to 12 centimeters long, 27 to 40 millimeters broad, broadly elliptical to ovate, crenate, rather thin; base rounded or broadly acute; apex acutely blunt pointed; petioles 35 to 60 millimeters long, broadly winged, up to 40 millimeters wide; wing area sometimes exceeding leaf area; flowers small, 12 to 13 millimeters in diameter, white, with a trace of purple on the outside, 2 to 5, in axillary or terminal cymes; petals 4; stamens free, equal, 15 to 17; ovary obovoid, locules 6 to 8; style slender, distinct; fruit 5 to 7 centimeters long, 3 to 4 centimeters in transverse diameter, averaging 26 grams in weight, obovate to oblong-obovate, somewhat compressed towards base; apex blunt pointed; surface fairly smooth or with transverse corrugations, lemon yellow; skin comparatively thick; pulp rather juicy, grayish, acid; aroma similar to that of the samuyao; juice cells short and blunt to long, slender and pointed, sometimes containing a minute, greenish nucleus; seeds many, flat, pointed, more or less reticulate.
The biasong has been collected in Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Negros, and in the Zamboanga and Misamis Provinces in Mindanao, in all of which it is sparingly cultivated. The flowers were described from material collected in Bohol in May. Ripe fruit has been obtained in May, June, August, November, and February, indicating that the species is more or less everbearing. The fruit is used by the native inhabitants as a hair wash, is not eaten, and is of no economic importance.
Particularly noticeable in the biasong are the small flowers, with less stamens than any other species, and the oblong-obovate, few-loculed fruits.
The “balincolong,” by the Filipinos regarded as quite a different fruit, found in Bohol and in Misamis, Mindanao, is a more robust tree attaining a height of 12 meters, and has longer wings and thicker leaves, with smoother fruits which sometimes are almost round, but these differences scarcely justify this form to rank as a subspecies even. Beginning in May, the balincolong (1982) has bloomed continuously at Lamao until date of writing (Dec. 18).
Biasong, B. A. No. 2502, 4829 (Bohol), Balincolong, No. 4834 (Bohol), 1981, 1982 (Misamis, Mindanao).
Citrus micrantha var. microcarpa. Samuyao.
([Pl. VIIb].)
A shrubby tree, 4.5 meters tall, with slender branches and small, weak spines; leaves 55 to 80 millimeters long, 20 to 25 millimeters broad, ovate to ovate-oblong or elliptical, crenulate, thin, of distinct fragrance, base rounded to broadly acute; apex obtuse, sometimes notched, petioles 20 to 30 millimeters long, broadly winged, about 14 millimeters wide, wing area somewhat less than one-half of the leaf blade; flowers in compact axillary or terminal cymes, 2 to 7, small, 5 to 9 millimeters in diameter, white, with trace of purple on the outside; calyx small, not cupped, petals 3 to 5; stamens 15 to 18, free, equal; ovary very small, globose to obovate; locules 7 to 9, style distinct; stigma small, knob like; fruit 15 to 20 millimeters in diameter, roundish in outline; base sometimes nippled; apex an irregular, wrinkly cavity; surface corrugate, greenish lemon yellow; oil cells usually sunken; skin very thin; pulp fairly juicy, acid, bitter with distinct aroma; juice cells very minute, blunt, containing a small, greenish nucleus; seeds small, flattened, sometimes beaked.
The samuyao occurs sparingly in cultivation in Cebu and Bohol. Flowers were collected in May, partly grown fruits were also obtained, and ripe fruits have been collected in June, and from November to February, showing that the plant is more or less everbearing. The fruit is used by the Filipinos as a hair wash, and is of no economic importance.
Throughout, the samuyao gives an impression of dwarfness, by its small size, weak spines, small, and thin leaves; the flowers are even smaller than in the biasong and the fruit is in all probability the smallest in the genus.
In Bohol a somewhat more vigorous variety of samuyao was found which is named “samuyao-sa-amoo.” The fruits of samuyao-sa-amoo are a little larger, and smoother, and longer than broad, otherwise similar to the samuyao.
Samuyao, B. A. No. 2371, 2509 (Cebu), 2530, 4821 (Bohol); Samuyao-sa-amoo 2533, 4832 (Bohol).
Citrus medica L. Citron.
A shrub or small tree, about 3 meters high, with a short, indistinct trunk and short, thick, irregular, straggling, thorny branches; bark light gray; thorns short, sharp, rather stout; young shoots smooth, violet colored or purplish, stiff; leaves large, 10 to 15 centimeters long, oval oblong, serrate or somewhat crenate, dark green above, lighter beneath; flowers small, axillary, in compact clusters of 3 to 10, often unisexual; calyx small, cupped; corolla white within, tinged with purple on the outside; petals oblong, the tips incurved; stamens short, irregular in length, 40 to 45 in number; pistil small;[2] ovary 9 to 12 loculed or occasionally more; fruit lemon yellow, large, 15 to 22 centimeters long, oblong, rough or warty, sometimes ridged; apex blunt pointed; rind thick, white, except for the outer colored rim; pulp sparse; juice scant, acid, and somewhat bitter or sweetish; juice sacs small, slender; seeds oval, plump, light colored, smooth. Probably native to India, or it may have been introduced there from farther east, China or Cochin China. Extremely sensitive to cold.
The citron is the rarest of all the old cultivated citrus in the Philippines and is very seldom seen in the markets.
Citrus medica var. odorata. Tihi-tihi.
([Pl. VIIa].)
A small, thorny shrub, seldom exceeding 2.5 meters in height, with sharp, stout spines; young growth bright green; leaves 7.5 to 11 centimeters long, 4.3 to 6.5 centimeters broad, elliptical, rather thick and leathery, serrate, of distinct fragrance; base rounded; apex notched; petioles very short 4 to 6 millimeters long, not winged; flowers 1 to 4 in axillary compressed cymes, sessile, rarely exceeding 38 millimeters in diameter; calyx large, prominently cupped; petals 4 to 5, fleshy, white, with a tinge of purple on the outside; stamens 36 to 42, unequal, shorter than stigma; filaments united in groups of 4 to 6; pollen abundant; gynoecium frequently aborted; ovary elevated on a bright green disk, large, 4 millimeters long, 13 to 14 loculed; style tapering from ovary, scarcely more slender, rather short; stigma large, knob like, and cleft; fruit 60 to 65 millimeters long, 7 to 10 centimeters in transverse diameter, weighing 300 to 475 grams, oblate, with a shallow basal cavity, and sometimes a mammilate apex, more or less ridged longitudinally, fairly smooth, clear lemon yellow; lenticels scattered, depressed; oil cells large, equal or a trifle raised; skin rather thick; pulp grayish, rather dry, sharply acid, of lemon flavor; juice cells long and slender; seeds many—sometimes 125 in a single fruit—short, broad, and flattened.
The tihi-tihi is a rare plant found in cultivation in Cebu and Bohol; one plant has been seen in Misamis, Mindanao. The plant is very precocious, fruiting as early as the third year from seed, everbearing, and is used by the Filipinos in washing the hair. It is not eaten, and is of no commercial importance.
The tihi-tihi differs from the citron in its green, tender, highly aromatic growth, the leaves having been found to contain 0.6 per cent essential oil as analyzed by the Bureau of Science. The fruit is strikingly different from the citron.
B. A. No. 19 (Cebu).
Citrus medica var. nanus.
A small, thorny shrub, rarely exceeding 2 meters in height, with small, sharp spines; leaves 7 to 11 centimeters long, 2.5 to 4.5 centimeters broad, narrowly oblong ovate to elliptical oblong, serrate, darker above than beneath; base rounded; apex frequently notched; petiole 5 to 7 millimeters long, wingless; flowers 2 to 10, in axillary or terminal, rather loose cymes, 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter; calyx large, cupped; petals linear oblong, with tips slightly incurved, white, with trace of purple on the outside; stamens 36 to 50, unequal; filaments usually united into groups, sometimes free; gynoecium sometimes wanting; ovary large, oblong, 10 to 12 loculed; style not distinct, of nearly the same thickness as ovary; stigma large, superior to anthers, knob shaped; fruit 65 or more millimeters long, 55 millimeters in diameter, ellipsoid to almost roundish, pointed at apex, lemon yellow, smooth; rind medium thick; pulp grayish to greenish, acid, rather dry; juice cells long and slender, almost linear; seeds many, rather small, flattened, smooth.
The plant is rather common in the Archipelago, and has been noted in Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Laguna, and Cebu. It is frequently grown and fruited in small pots, and is probably the smallest species in the genus. It is surprisingly productive and precocious, fruiting as early as the second year from seed, and is practically everbearing. The fruit is eaten by the Filipinos but is too dry to be cultivated for the flesh and the skin is too thin for utilization as citron peel.
B. A. No. 27 (Cebu), 2384 (Laguna).
Citrus limonum Risso. Lemon.
A small tree 3 to 6 meters in height, with rather open head of short, round or angular branches, thorny; bark grayish; young shoots purplish, smooth; leaves evergreen, alternate, 50 to 75 millimeters in length, ovate oval, sharp pointed, light green, margin serrate; petioles entirely wingless; flowers solitary, occasionally in pairs, axillary, on distinct peduncles; calyx persistent, segments 4 or 5; corolla large, 38 to 50 millimeters across, white inside, purplish outside; petals oblong, spreading, strongly reflexed; stamens 20 to 26, separate, or more or less united in small groups; ovary considerably elevated on a prominent disk, 7 to 10 loculed; fruit ripening at all seasons, ovoid or oblong, and pointed at both base and apex, about 75 millimeters long, smooth or rough, light yellow in color; rind thin, flesh light colored; pulp acid; juice sacs long and pointed; seeds oval, pointed at the micropylar end, quite smooth. Native of the same regions as the citron.
The true lemon is very rarely cultivated in the Philippines and all lemons used are imported from California, Australia and Spain.
Citrus pseudolimonum. Colo-colo.
([Pl. VIIa].)
A thorny shrub, 3 meters tall, with interlocking branches, and short, sharp spines; leaves 8 to 11 centimeters long, 40 to 45 millimeters broad, elliptical to oblong-ovate, crenulate to serrulate; base rounded; apex obtuse, frequently slightly notched; petioles 18 to 25 millimeters long, with narrow wing margin, rarely exceeding 10 millimeters in width; flowers 1 to 5, in terminal or axillary short cymes, 28 to 35 millimeters in diameter, white, purplish outside; calyx cupped; stamens 30 to 37, nearly always free, unequal; ovary broadly obovoid, 14 to 18 loculed; style distinct; fruit roundish to pyriform, small, usually compressed at base; apex irregular; surface greenish lemon, more or less corrugate; oil cells raised; skin comparatively thick; pulp acid; juice cells small, short and plump; seeds undeveloped and sterile.
The colo-colo is another of these peculiar Philippine species with more or less winged petioles affiliated to the lemon, etc. Flowers were collected in May, and ripe fruit has been examined in January and February. The nearly always free stamens in a plant belonging to the same general group as the lemon is of interest.
Near the colo-colo is the “lombog,” considered a distinct fruit, also found in Bohol. This variety is less vigorous than the colo-colo and also differs from the plant in having narrower wing margins and 21 to 28 stamens and 9 to 11 locules. The fruit is said to be about 4.5 centimeters in diameter and similar in shape to that of the colo-colo.
The “kunot” is a third variety considered distinct by the Boholanos that also may be referred to C. pseudolimonum.
To C. pseudolimonum may perhaps also be referred a thorny, arborescent shrub, attaining a height of 4.5 meters, found in Siquijor, a little island south of Negros. Material of this was collected in August, 1912, by the writer, at which time the tree bore partly grown, oblong, rough, small fruits. The plants at Lamao have flowered during the last two months but have not set fruit. The principal difference in this variety from the colo-colo and lombog is in the number of stamens, here 36 to 41.
The fruits of C. pseudolimonum have no economic value.
Colo-colo, B. A. No. 2535, 4825; Lombog, No. 2498, 4827 (Bohol), 1953 (Siquijor).
Citrus limetta Risso. Lime.
A shrub or tree of straggling habit, with small, stiff interlocking or drooping, thorny branches, the thorns small, sharp, numerous; bark grayish brown; young branchlets light green, becoming darker with age; leaves elliptic-oval, glossy green in color, margin slightly indented; petioles margined; flowers small, produced in axillary clusters of 3 to 10; calyx small, four to five pointed; corolla white on both inner and outer surfaces; petals 4 to 5, oblong, fleshy; stamens small, 20 to 25, united in a number of groups; ovary about 10 loculed; fruit rounded or oblong, frequently mammilate, light yellow; rind thin; pulp greenish, acid; juice sacs small, slender, pointed; seeds small, oval, pointed. Native to India and southeastern Asia.
The lime, in Luzon known as “dayap,” ranks third in importance among the citrus fruits cultivated in the Philippines, and now and then excellent fruit is found in the market, showing what could be done in growing first-class fruit if pains were taken to do a little selection work and plant budded trees.
Citrus limetta var. aromatica.
A spiny shrub, with rather slender, willowly, drooping branches, and sharp spines; young growth light green, of pleasant and distinct odor when bruised; leaves 7.5 to 10 centimeters long, 3.5 to 5 centimeters broad, ovate oblong to elliptical, serrate to crenate, dull green above; base rounded to broadly acute; apex frequently notched; petiole 6 to 19 millimeters long with a narrow wing margin; flowers solitary or in cymes to 4, terminal or axillary, 28 to 35 millimeters across; calyx rather large, cupped; petals 4 to 5, white with a trace of purple on the outside; stamens unequal, 28 to 32, more or less united; ovary large, oblong, 12 to 13 loculed; style not distinct as in C. aurantium but rather similar to that in C. medica, a trifle more slender than the ovary; fruit 5 centimeters long, 4 to 4.5 centimeters across, roundish to roundish oblong, lemon yellow, smooth; skin thin; pulp pale green, juicy, sharply acid, sometimes almost bitter; juice cells long, slender and pointed; seeds very numerous, small and plump, polyembryonic.
This form seems to be fairly well distributed and material has been propagated at Lamao from such distinct points as Mindoro, Palawan and Benguet. Unquestionably a lime, it is quite distinct from the ordinary lime in habit, and in the aromatic tender foliage and purplish-petaled flowers on the outside, which are larger than those in the lime, the number of stamens also exceeding those of the lime.
B. A. No. 741 (Palawan), 1749 (Mindoro), 2182 (Benguet).
Citrus excelsa. Limon Real.
A thorny, tall shrub of vigorous growth, straggly habit and interlocking branches, with stout, long, sharp thorns; young growth purplish; leaves 9.5 to 16 centimeters long, 4.5 to 7 centimeters wide, elliptical oblong to ovate oblong, crenate to serrate, thick and leathery; base rounded; apex retuse; petiole 19 to 37 millimeters long, quite broadly winged, in large leaves the wings frequently exceeding 2 centimeters in width; flowers 3 to 7, in axillary, rather loose cymes, 36 millimeters in diameter; calyx medium large, cupulate; petals showing trace of purple on the outside; stamens 34 to 35, unequal; filaments occasionally free, usually united into groups of 2 to 6; ovary roundish, 10 to 14 loculed, 4.5 millimeters across; style distinct, 5 millimeters long; stigma large; fruit 5 to 7.3 centimeters long, 5.5 to 7.5 centimeters in equatorial diameter, weight 115 to 225 grams; form subglobose; base rounded; apex flattened; surface smooth, greenish to clear lemon yellow; skin thin; pulp greenish to grayish, in good varieties very juicy, mildly acid, and of excellent flavor; juice cells long, slender and pointed.
Plant material of the limon real has been collected in Tarlac, Bontoc, and Bohol, and the fruit is at rare intervals offered for sale in small quantities in Manila.
The name of the plant, “Royal lemon,” indicates the esteem in which the fruit is held by the people, and while it is unfortunately true that most fruits tested have been too dry to be of any value, yet in the best types the fruits in quality and aroma surpass all lemons and limes that the writer has had the opportunity to sample. With its robust, thorny growth, large leaves and broad-winged petioles and considering its affinity to the lime and lemon together with the roundish oblate fruit with 34 to 35 stamens as against the 20 to 26 in those species and with its 10 to 14 locules, this plant is apparently as distinct from the lemon and lime as these species are from each other.
B. A. No. 1727 (Bontoc?).
Citrus excelsa var. davaoensis.
A thorny, arborescent shrub of straggly habit, with interlocking, drooping branches, and of vigorous growth; young growth green with tinge of purple; leaves 8.5 to 13.5 centimeters long, 3.8 to 5 centimeters wide, ovate to oblong ovate, crenulate to serrulate; base rounded; apex sometimes retuse; petiole 16 to 30 millimeters long, with wings ordinarily narrow, in large leaves sometimes 15 millimeters wide; flowers not seen; fruit 6.4 centimeters long, 8 centimeters in equatorial diameter, weighing 317 grams, oblate; base rounded; apex flattened to depressed, wrinkled, with a circular depression around the raised stigmatic area; surface otherwise fairly smooth, lemon yellow; skin thin, central cavity large; pulp contained in about 13 locules, light colored, quite juicy, sharply acid, and of good flavor; juice cells long and slender.
Ripe fruit of this species has been received from Davao, Mindanao, in December and January. The fruit is perhaps too large for retail trade, but might possibly be utilized in the manufacture of lime juice and allied products.
Full-grown plants of C. excelsa or the variety above described have not been seen, but C. e. davaoensis appears to be smaller than C. excelsa in all respects, the fruits excepted. There has been no opportunity for an examination of the flowers but so far as observed the plant appears more closely related to C. excelsa than any other species herein described.
B. A. No. 1009 (Davao, Mindanao).