Citrus Growers Forum

citrange · Posted: Sun 10 Nov, 2013 6:32 pm

I have several plants grown from seeds producing a range of fruits. All extremely sour. These scanned images are the fruit from one plant that most closely resembles the original description of this variety. I provided these to a botanical artist here in England who has been commissioned by the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens to paint it. Saved her a trip to Australia!
Fruits are about 4cms long. Stalk end at the top. When ripe the upper side is dark green, lower side yellowish. All fruits were seedless.

Mike/Citrange

Laaz · Posted: Sun 10 Nov, 2013 7:11 pm

Cool fruit Mike.

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MarcV · Posted: Mon 11 Nov, 2013 6:59 am

Interesting fruit. They don't appear to contain a lot of juice...

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citrange · Posted: Mon 11 Nov, 2013 9:51 am

Quote:

They don't appear to contain a lot of juice

You're right. The flesh is fairly dry and quite crunchy - it separates out into individual vesicules when you try and spoon it out from the fruit.

Millet · Posted: Mon 11 Nov, 2013 12:52 pm

I have a rather large Sydney hybrid tree growing in 40 gallon air root pruning container. I guess it must be about 6 or 7 year sold. When I first planted the tree I thought it was a Finger Lime tree. The Sydney hybrid tree is a real pin cushion with thorns everywhere one touches the tree. For people who like sour tasting fruit, this would be the tree for them, otherwise it does not have much to offer. I've been thinking of getting rid of it and replacing that space with a Finger Lime that I have. There is only so much room inside a greenhouse. - Millet

citrange · Posted: Mon 11 Nov, 2013 1:40 pm

Quote:

I have a rather large Sydney hybrid tree

Do the fruits on your tree look the same as in my photos?
M.

Millet · Posted: Mon 11 Nov, 2013 7:28 pm

Yes they look like your photos. Mike tell me why would the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens, which I presume is in Sydney, commission an artist in England to paint a fruit that grows from a tree native to Australia? Australia must have artists that can paint. - Millet

citrange · Posted: Mon 11 Nov, 2013 7:54 pm

Quote:

why would the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens, which I presume is in Sydney, commission an artist in England to paint a fruit that grows from a tree native to Australia?

I don't know the answer to your question, but she's obviously very well-regarded in botanical art circles. See
http://www.elisabethdowle.com/about.asp

By the way, I've never met the lady, but have mailed twigs, flowers and fruits to her. She has promised to send me a photo of the finished work before she delivers it to Sydney. I'll let you know how it turns out. You'll probably be able to order a signed copy from her website - at a price!

Mike.

Millet · Posted: Tue 12 Nov, 2013 12:43 am

I originally received my Sydney hybrid tree from Citrus Joe as a gift. The first year that the tree produced a few fruit, I noticed that the fruit did not elongate to the length of a finger lime. I first thought that perhaps the smaller length of the fruit was due to being the tree's first year of fruiting. Of course the tree produced the identical fruit every succeeding year. Currently the tree is now about 5-feet wide and 5 feet tall. I have decided to discard the tree and plant an actual Finger lime tree in its place. Evidently the Sydney hybrid fruit never turns yellow or orange, but always stays green. I don't eat them but my secretaries children do, so I give them to her. Every year there are always many fruits left on the tree until they finally drop to the ground, even then they are still just as green as ever.. - Millet

bussone · Posted: Tue 12 Nov, 2013 9:27 pm

citrange wrote:

Quote:

They don't appear to contain a lot of juice

You're right. The flesh is fairly dry and quite crunchy - it separates out into individual vesicules when you try and spoon it out from the fruit.

Does this tend to be true of the finger lime crosses?