Lee

Synonyms

None

Cultivar or taxon

Citrus reticulata Blanco (sensu Swingle and Reece 1967, Mabberley 1997, 2004; sensu Tanaka sec. Cottin 2002); Citrus clementina hort. X Citrus x tangelo J.W. Ingram & H.E. Moore (sec. NPGS/GRIN 2010)

Origin

Hodgson (1967) noted that: "This new early hybrid variety is one of three (Lee, Osceola, Robinson) resulting from a cross of Clementine mandarin X Orlando tangelo made by Gardner and Bellows of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Florida in 1942 and released in 1959 (Reece and Gardner 1959). Lee is currently under commercial trial in Florida. Since the parent varieties respond to cross-pollination, it seems likely that the daughter varieties will respond similarly."

The Chiefland Budwood Facility (2010) provided the following notes on the cultivar (clone SPB-800-56): "Lee is a USDA hybrid, cross between Clementine & Orlando tangelo, released in 1959."

Description

Crown compact or dense, not weeping. First-year twig surface glabrous; second- or third-year twig surface striate; thorns absent or not persistent; prickles absent or not persistent. Petiole glabrous, length medium; wings narrow, adjoining the blade. Leaflets one, margin crenate/crenulate or bluntly toothed, shade leaflet blades flat or weakly conduplicate, sun leaflet blades weakly conduplicate. Scent of crushed leaflets mandarin-like. Fruit as broad as long or longer than broad; rind yellow (7-10), yellow-orange (11), or orange (12); rind texture slightly rough (4-5); firmness leathery; navel absent or present; flesh orange; taste acidic-sweet.

Hodgson (1967) provided the following additional notes on the cultivar:

"Fruit medium in size, slightly oblate to subglobose; basal area slightly raised and furrowed; apex evenly rounded or slightly flattened. Rind thin, leathery, moderately adherent but readily peelable; surface smooth and glossy: color deep yellowish-orange at maturity. Segments 9 to 10, readily separable; axis large and hollow. Flesh color orange; tender and melting; juice abundant; flavor rich and sweet. Seeds numerous and cotyledons light green. Medium-early in maturity.

Tree not distinctive, nearly thornless; dense foliage comprised of medium-sized, lanceolate leaves."

The Chiefland Budwood Facility (2010) provided the following additional notes on the cultiar (clone SPB-800-56): "Early variety with large fruit that is mature before peel color develops. Seedy, 10-25 seeds, low acid, peel color delayed, alt bearing, and poor peelability. Although not required, needs pollination for best fruiting."

References

Chiefland Budwood Facility. 2010. 2010 Annual report July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010. Bureau of Citrus Budwood Registration, Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Winter Haven.

Cottin, R. 2002. Citrus of the World: A citrus directory. Version 2.0. France: SRA INRA-CIRAD.

Mabberley, D.J. 1997. A classification for edible Citrus (Rutaceae). Telopea 7: 167–172.

Mabberley, D.J. 2004. Citrus (Rutaceae): A review of recent advances in etymology, systematics and medical applications. Blumea 49: 481–498.

Reece, P. C., and F. E. Gardner. 1959. Robinson, Osceola and Lee—new early maturing tangerine hybrids. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 72:49—51.

Swingle, W.T. and P.C. Reece. 1967. The botany of Citrus and its wild relatives. In: Reuther, W., H.J. Webber, and L.D. Batchelor (eds.). The Citrus industry. Ed. 2. Vol. I. University of California, Riverside. http://lib.ucr.edu/agnic/webber/Vol1/Chapter3.html.

Resources

Search for this cultivar in NCBI Entrez