Owari

Synonyms

None

Cultivar or taxon

Citrus reticulata Blanco [Satsuma Group] (sensu Swingle and Reece 1967, Mabberley 1997); Citrus unshiu Marcov. (sensu Hodgson 1967; sensu Tanaka sec. Cottin 2002)

Origin

The Chiefland Budwood Facility (2010) provided the following notes on the cultivar (clone 874): "This is the Glen St. Mary Nursery’s Owari Satsuma selection that was entered into the budwood program in 2005 by Mr. Barwald of Flying Dragon Citrus Nursery."

The Chiefland Budwood Facility (2010) provided the following notes on the cultivar (clone F-60-23/F-60-25): "Seed from 19-10-5, a selection entered in 1953 from Reynolds Citrus Grove & Nursery Ocala. Origin: Japan, natural hybrid prior to 1600 AD."

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 short or medium; wings narrow, adjoining the blade. Leaflets one, margin bluntly toothed, shade leaflet blades flat or weakly conduplicate, sun leaflet blades weakly conduplicate. Scent of crushed leaflets mandarin-like. Fruit broader than long; rind yellow (7-10), yellow-orange (11), or orange (12); rind texture slightly rough (4-5) or medium rough (6-7); firmness leathery; navel absent; flesh orange; taste acidic-sweet.

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

"Fruit medium in size, medium-oblate to subglobose; sometimes slightly necked; seedless. Orange-colored but commonly matures in advance of good coloration. Rind thin and leathery; surface smooth to slightly rough; easily separable. As maturity passes, the neck, if present, increases in size, the rind roughens, and its looseness increases, becoming baggy. Segments 10 to 12, with tough carpellary membranes; loosely separable; axis hollow. Flesh orange-colored; tender and melting; flavor rich but subacid. Season of maturity earl November-December. Fruit holds poorly on trees after maturity and must be picked promptly but stores well.

Tree moderately vigorous but slow-growing,; medium-small, spreading and drooping; very productive."

The Chiefland Budwood Facility (2010) provided the following additional notes on the cultivar (clone F-60-23/F-60-25): "Description: Fruit large, flattened, depressions, matures prior to color, tree cold hardy, 0-6 seeds, does not ship or degreen well. Season: Early, September-November"

Notes

Hodgson (1967) noted that: "This variety is of ancient and unknown Japanese origin presumably from the old province of Owari, whence the name. While still important in the older districts it has largely been displaced by derivative varieties that have arisen from it through bud variation. What is believed to be true Owari was introduced into the United States more than fifty years ago and, since recent Japanese descriptions of it are not available, the characterizations given here are adapted from Webber (1943). Two nucellar selections, Silverhill Owari and Frost Owari, have been derived from it in the United States and are currently recommended. Kara, a variety of some interest in California, is a hybrid between Owari satsuma and King mandarin. Likewise, the Umatilla tangor of Florida is an Owari satsuma-Ruby blood orange hybrid."

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.

Hodgson, R.W. 1967. Horticultural varieties of Citrus. In: Reuther, W., H.J. Webber, and L.D. Batchelor (eds.). The Citrus industry, rev. University of California Press. http://lib.ucr.edu/agnic/webber/Vol1/Chapter4.html.

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

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.

Webber, H.J. 1943. Cultivated varieties of citrus. In: Webber, H.J. and L.D. Batchelor (eds.). The Citrus industry. I: 475-668. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles.

Resources

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