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).