Grapefruit
Family Rutaceae
Citrus paradisi, the grapefruit (C. paradisi 1), has its origin in the West Indies, either as a mutation from the pomelo, or as hybrid between the pomelo and the sweet orange. The name grapefruit is first recorded in Jamaica in 1814. After its introduction into Florida, its commercial production started about 1880. It is a spreading tree with broadly winged petioles and white flowers, borne singly or in axillary clusters, with 20-25 stamens. The fruit is globose, up to 15 cm in diameter, pale yellow or greenish when ripe.
Use
The bitter pulp is eaten fresh or made into juice. Large amounts of segments are also canned. Most kinds have yellow pulp, but there are also forms with pinkish pulp. A hybrid between the grapefruit and the mandarin produced the ‘ siamelo’ (C. paradisi 2). There are several of such hybrids produced, but with little economic importance.
The biggest producers are Florida, California, the West Indies, Central America and South Africa. In Europe imports are made from Israel and Brazil.