Mandarin, clementine, clemancy, tangerine… do you sometimes get lost in front of the year-end citrus stalls? Despite their differences, it is not always easy to distinguish a tangerine from a clementine. Let’s take a look at what sets them apart.
There are clementines and tangerines Two citrus fruits from the Rutaceae familyWhich includes approx 900 species in total. Clementine is actually a hybrid species of tangerine. He was named in honor Father Clement, head of the nursery at the Misarghin Orphanage near Oran in Algeria. One day he discovered a tree in his garden that did not resemble his mandarin trees. This tree, the clementine treewas Born from a cross between mandarin flower and orange pollen. A product of chance, the clementine quickly became a highly prized product for its sweet flavor and juicy flesh. Today, it is increasingly replacing mandarin on market stalls.
How to identify clementine?
Mandarin and Clementine Same round shape, same orange color And almost the same size. Almost identical on the outside, mandarin and clementine are easily distinguished once opened. Clementines are also highly appreciated and often preferred for these differences: they are much easier to peel than tangerines and contain no or very few seeds. It also has the advantage of being harvested a month earlier than mandarin and thus hits market stalls from October. Clementine, on the other hand, is less sweet. Among citrus fruits, tangerines actually have the least acidic flesh.
Why are clementines seedless?
the opposite While tangerines have many seeds, clementines are often devoid of them. As a hybrid fruit, clementines can produce seeds, but only if bees bring in pollen from other citrus fruits to fertilize the clementine flowers. therefore, Clementines will only have seeds when another fruit tree is close to the garden. Also, a clementine tree cannot reproduce alone. To do this, it is necessary to carry out grafting with rootstock or cuttings. All clementine trees are genetic twins of another clementine tree, i.e. clones.
Why do some clementines have no seeds?
the word “Clementine“is usually used to refer to a variety of mandarin, and is common to find Absence of seeds in some clementines. This is explained by the reproductive process of the plant and specific genetic characteristics of clementine. Clementines are often seedless Hybrid varieties that have been selected and cultivated for their seedlessness, which makes them more pleasant to eat. Farmers and growers often choose to promote the cultivation of seedless varieties, as they are generally more popular with consumers.
Breeding of citrus fruits including tangerines and Clementines can be propagated by seed or by other vegetative propagation methods. Seedless varieties are usually produced using vegetative propagation techniques, such as cuttings or grafting. This helps maintain the desirable characteristics of the parent plant, including being seedless.
What is the difference between a clementine and a tangerine and an orange?
conditions”Clementine“,”Mandarin“and”Orange” refer to different varieties of citrus fruits, although the classification can sometimes vary depending on regions and local consumption. Here is how the terms are commonly used:
- Clementine: Clementine is a specific variety of tangerine. She usually is Small, sweet and easy to peel than other types of tangerines. Clementine is also characterized by its succulent texture and the frequent absence of its seeds. This is a very popular tangerine variety, especially during the festive season.
- Mandarin: the word “Mandarin” is often used more broadly to refer to a group of fruits to the citrus family. Mandarins include many varieties, of which clementine is the most well-known. The Mandarins are generally characterized by their small size, thin, smooth peel and sweet taste..
- Orange: Oranges are a wide variety of citrus fruits that include different species and Cultivars. Oranges are generally larger than tangerines Thick skin and often divided into districts. There are several varieties of oranges, the most common of which are: Sweet orange (for eating) and bitter orange (used for example in the production of marmalade).
In summary, clementine is a specific variety of tangerine, and tangerine is a broad type of citrus fruit. Oranges are a broader category of citrus fruits that include several varieties, some of which are tangerines. The distinction between these terms can vary by region, and there are many distinct varieties with distinctive features.
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