Ok so does anyone have a definative answer as to whether the Bergamot is a Lemon or Orange ? Googling Bergamot will give you both... ???

According to The Citrus Industry:

Quote:

It appears to be a hybrid of the sour orange...While there is general agreement that the sour orange has one parent, the other parent is a matter of conjecture. It has usually been assumed that it was the lemon, but Chapot (1962b) has presented rather convincing evidence in support of the conclusion that some kind of acid lime was the other parent. The common bergamot (bergamotto of Italy) appears to consist of two clones which are often confused with each other and, in fact, frequently overlap in characteristics: Femminello (note also the lemon variety of the same name) and Castagnaro.

Bergamot is officially listed as one of the five groups within the sour oranges. The sub groups are: 1). Standard or Seville, 2). Bouquet de Fleurs, 3).Granito or Abers (a willow leafed sour orange) 4). Chinotto, and 5). Bergamot (C. bergamia). There exist theories regarding the origin of the name, the most likely of which appears to be named after the bergamot pear, which the citrus bergamot resembles. The plant has characteristics in common both with the orange and the lemon and therefore should be considered a hybrid of these two. A very interesting aspect of Bergamot is that the workers that extract the essential oil from the fruits NEVER have any discharge of pus from cuts or lesions, even if the cuts are relatively serious. Some of the uses that the bergamot essential oil is used for are insomnia, to alleviate toothache, and as a disinfectant. A few drops in water of the essence itself is used by women for washing in the first few days following childbirth. Bergamot oil is an infallible remedy for chapped, sore hands and feet Some surgeons use bergamot oil in a 15 percent alcohol solution, as a substitute for iodine tincture. It is also widely used in the treatment of burns, varicose veins, as a microbicide, analgesic, antipyretic and in treating highly infectious disease among fish populations. Lastly bergamot oils is an ingredient in dandruff shampoos. This is probably more information than people want to know but I thought it is very interesting. - Millet

In Italy, there exist more different cultivars of C. bergamia - f.E. cv. Feminello, Fantastico (both are with yellow peel), also cv. Castagnaro (it should has a little bit orange collored peel), then cv. San Anastasia and cv. Melarosa - there is also another cv. which I've forgotten.
It is in my opinion not a hybrid between orange and lemon, but a hybrid between sourorange and probably lemon. The leaves and the peel is smelling like Eau de Cologne!

thanks Millet, learned something new.
Here's the info from my sources:

Citrus aurantium (Seville, Bergamot or Sour Orange)

The Bergamot Orange is a small to medium sized, yellow/orange skinned orange fruit with a strong acid flavor, and aromatic rind. It is cultivated mostly in southern Italy, and is the flavoring used in Earl Grey Tea. Bergamot orange is NOT Bergamot or Bergamot mint; they are different plants in the mint family, also called bee balm or Oswego tea. Oil of bergamot is extracted from the peel of the bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia or Citrus aurantium bergamia), a small pear shaped sour orange which is cultivated today mostly in southern Italy.

Small to medium sized tree, usually only 20-30ft high. Trees are somewhat sensitive to freezes and grow best in areas having only limited frosts and freezes. Grows in conditions suitable for the average citrus, water frequently except during cold months. Fertilize 2-4 times per year. Can be container grown.

Bergamot is thought to be a hybrid between Pummelo (Citrus grandis) and Mandarin (Citrus reticulata). Latest genetic research indicates that the Bergamot orange is most likely a cross (natural??) between the sweet or pear lemon (Citrus limetta) and the Seville or sour orange (Citrus aurantium) [First International Citrus Biotechnology Symposium, August 2000)] The sour orange is native to southern Vietnam but its exact origin is relatively unsure.

Bergamot is sometimes placed in a separate species Citrus bergamia, but is otherwise considered to be a variety of Citrus aurantium. Citrus aurantium orginated in China and seems to have entered the written record there by 300 BC. It is recorded from Japan by about 100 AD. By about 100 BC, Sour Orange seeds appear to have reached Rome.

In China and Japan, Sour Orange is not usually eaten raw but used for: (1) making marmalade and candied peel; (2) producing essential oils for use in soaps and perfume; and (3) scenting tea using the flower buds. Bergamot yields neroli oil from the flowers which is used in perfumery (e.g. in Eau de Cologne), and Bergamot oil which is the substance added to Earl Grey tea to give it that distinctive flavour.

Flower pot, in my post I wrote, "orange and the lemon and therefore should be considered a hybrid of these two" I actually meant to write Sour Orange instead of Orange. Thank you for bring the up, we are both in agreement. - Millet

Thanks everyone. Joe the variegated Bergamot budwood you sent took well. I have three nice size trees from it.

Laaz, some year we should have the Southeast Citrus Expo, held in your back yard, with the Expo topic being Variegated Citrus. Your the man when it comes to varigegated citrus. - Millet

I'm still looking for more ! The variegated foliage is just awsome as are the striped fruit.

Does anyone have any bergamot citrus seeds they would like to share? I have been trying for years to just get a few, to no avail. I will gladly trade for other seeds that may be of interest to you.

Bergamot seeds are monoembryonic

If anyone has Bergamot cuttings to share I would love to trade for some, or will gladly do postage.

Jean
recipesaver2
jeanss@hughes.net

My plant Citrus bergamia. I don't know name this variety.