Page

Synonyms

None

Cultivar or taxon

Citrus x aurantium L., pro sp. [Tangelo Group] X Citrus reticulata Blano (sensu Mabberley 1997, 2004); (Citrus reticulata Blanco x Citrus paradisi Macfad.) X Citrus reticulata Blanco (sensu Swingle and Reece 1967); Citrus x tangelo J.W. Ingram & H.E. Moore X Citrus clementina hort. (sec. NPGS/GRIN 2010; sensu Tanaka sec. Cottin 2002)

Origin

Hodgson (1967) noted that:

"This early ripening, high quality variety, the fruit of which has considerable resemblance to a sweet orange, originated from a Minneola tangelo X Clementine mandarin cross made by Gardner and Bellows of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1942. Page was described and released in 1963 by P. C. Reece and F. E. Gardner at the U.S. Horticultural Field Station, Orlando, Florida. It is recommended for Florida conditions and the fruit may be undesirably small in arid climates. Cross-pollination should be provided until the facts in that connection have been determined.

While officially released as an orange, technically speaking this variety should probably be referred to the tangelo hybrid group, since its parentage is three-fourths mandarin and one-fourth grapefruit."

The Chiefland Budwood Facility (2010) provided the following notes on the cultivar (clone SPB-800-2): "Released by the USDA in 1963, hybrid of Minneola and Clementine. Small fruit, nearly round with excellent flavor. The budwood clone was received from the USDA Whitmore variety block in 1966."

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 or medium, adjoining the blade. Leaflets one, margin bluntly toothed, shade leaflet blades flat or weakly conduplicate, sun leaflet blades flat, weakly or strongly conduplicate. Scent of crushed leaflets mandarin-like. Fruit as broad as long or longer than broad; rind yellow-orange (11), orange (12), or red-orange (13); rind texture slightly rough (4-5) or medium rough (6-7); firmness leathery; navel absent; flesh orange or yellow; taste acidic-sweet.

 

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

 

"Fruit of medium size, broadly oblate to subglobose; apex evenly rounded. Rind medium-thin, leathery, moderately adherent but easily peelable, surface smooth to moderately pebbled; color reddish-orange at maturity. Segments about 10 and central axis solid to slightly open. Flesh color deep orange; tender and juicy; flavor rich and sweet. Seeds moderately numerous and cotyledons pale yellow to almost white. Early in maturity.

 

Tree moderately vigorous; branches upright, spreading under the weight of fruit, nearly thornless; productive."

 

The Chiefland Budwood Facility (2010) provided the following notes on the cultivar (clone SPB-800-2): "High quality, small fruit, susceptible to scab, 0-25 seeds, needs pollinator (Lee, TE, OR/TA). Season: Early, October-February"

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.

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

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

Additional information on this cultivar at University of California: Riverside Citrus Variety Collection