(from Citrus trifoliata and orange by syncopation: Ci[trus] tr[ifoliata] [or]ange). Rutaceae. A hybrid between the common orange and the hardy trifoliate orange, Poncirus trifoliata (Citrus trifoliata).

Citranges have trifoliate leaves, but the lateral leaflets are much smaller than the terminal one: leaves semi-deciduous, falling completely only during a very severe winter: flowers borne on new wood in spring, very large, white, sometimes over 2 1/2 in. diam., but with long and narrow petals, which vary much in size in different citranges: fruits variable, from 1-4 in. diam., globose, or depressed-globose, red-orange or lemon-yellow, smooth or hairy, the pulp abundant and very juicy, acid or subacid, with an agreeable aromatic flavor; peel often full of a disagreeably flavored essential oil.

The citranges are very cold-resistant if in a dormant condition, being able to stand temperatures as low as 15° or even 10° F. without injury. They are not adapted to commercial culture but are of much interest for home use in the cotton-belt of the southern states where the winters are too severe to permit of the culture of oranges or other citrous fruit. The flowers are showy and fragrant and the handsome fruits are used for making ade and for culinary purposes. The first successful hybrids between these plants were made by the writer at Eustis, Florida, in March, 1897, where eleven were secured. These remarkable hybrids were named citranges by H. J. Webber and the writer in 1905 (Yearbook, Department of Agriculture for 1904).

The principal varieties now grown in the southern states are:

Rusk (Fig. 970)

Fig. 970. Rusk citrange. (X 1/3)

This is the most precocious of the citranges and has the smallest flowers and smallest (l 1/2-2 in. diam.) and reddest fruits Young grafted trees often bear in 3 years. The foliage is dense and dark green. The fruits are thin-skinned, aromatic, juicy, and almost seedless. The peel contains a disagreeable oil and care must be taken to keep this out of the juice of the fruit Many thousand trees of this variety are now growing in the southern states and are prolific bearers.

Colman

This is very unlike all the other citranges. The fruits are large, 3-3 1/2 x 2 3/4-3 1/2 in., flattened, light yellow, and with a thick fuzzy peel, usually nearly seedless; the pulp is greenish, juice abundant, strongly acid, agreeably aromatic. It can be used for ade.

Morton

The largest of the citranges, fruit often weighing more than 1 lb. fruit round, resembling a large orange, rind medium, pulp sprightly acid, with a peculiar taste, usually seedless. Tree a vigorous grower, cold-resistant.

S Aunders

A small-fruited variety. fruits 2-2 1/2 in. diam. with 5-10 seeds, orange-yellow, peel thick with prominent oil-glands. The thick skin of this hybrid makes it keep well.

The juice is sharply acid This is probably the most cold-resistant of the citranges tested as yet.

Etonia

This hybrid is remarkable for its profuse bloom. The large white fragrant flowers make this a good ornamental in the cotton-belt; fruits small, very few.

Cunningham

This resembles the Colman in having fuzzy fruits which are, however, small and nearly spherical. The juice is sharply acid, aromatic, and makes very good ade.

Savage

fruit similar to an orange in appearance, 2-3 x 2 1/2-3 1/2 in,, light yellow, rind medium thick, bitter, pulp tender, translucent, juice with a sprightly acid flavor, aroma pleasant. Tree very vigorous and prolific. Foliage dense. Walter T. Swingle.