Australian citruses
All these citruses originate in Australia; most of them even from one particular area - Queensland. They all have small leaves, usually tiny flowers and produce typical, decorative fruit, which is even more acidic and thus sour than lemons. Australian citrus fruit also contains high amounts of vitamin C.
Some varieties are commonly used as rootstocks or for breeding with other citruses. Australian group of this unique plants has also several record holding varieties, e.g. citrus with the shortest vegetation period - 'Citrus glauca', but also many others. Citrus glauca is very resistant to low temperatures, cold weather and can withstand temperatures as low as -8°C (vegetation rest). Its highest tolerated temperatures are above 40°C.
Australian finger Microcitrus australasica (F. Muell.) Swingle Mikrocitrus
Finger, Finger lime, Lime digité d'Australie, Limetta digitiforme australiana, Queensland Finger, Queensland native
'Australische finger limete' was discovered by F. von Müller in Moreton Bay, Queensland. It grows wildly in rainforests of northern Australia, where it can reach mature height up to 10m. Young seedlings usually form only overhanging branches with thorns, strangely shaped leaves and short internodes. After the slow and strange initial growth they produce one or more new, young, purple-red vertical shoots with plenty of leaves and start growing in a new profile. Mature plants usually form sharp spikes (7-12mm) very close to the leaf buds where they protect and cover the emerging blossoms. This particular variety resembles microcitrus 'Australian round', which grows higher and has less elongated fruit than 'Australische finger limete' (6-10cm long, very narrow, only about 1,5-2,5cm in girth).
Yellow- green pericarp of 'Australische finger limete' is somewhat thick, tough with numerous essential oils sacs, whereas its yellow-green pulp is quite soft and typically divided into 5-8 segments. The juice inside the fruit is under such pressure, that it splashes, when the fruit is cut or otherwise damaged. Flesh also contains lots of acids, almost no sugars and approximately 82 mg/100 g pulp of vitamin C. There are numerous seeds inside the pulp though and probably the most interesting fact about the fruit is the fact, that it is variable, almost no factor (color, amount of segments, seeds...) is constant and varies unpredictably. That's why a pigmented variety called 'Red pulp finger' is considered to be only a clone.
Australians eat this fruit usually fresh from the tree. For other, numerous advantages this variety has, it's often used as a rootstock. It thrives in high temperatures, dry air and is suitable for growing indoors and shaping into bonsai. There are also some hybrids such as 'Sydney hybrid wild', a cross with M. australis (A. Cunn. ex Mudie) Swingle.
New taxonomy of citruses says that this variety is to be called Citrus australasica (F. Muell.) Swingle and the other, pigmented variety 'Red pulp finger' is only a clone.
Australian finger Microcitrus australasica (F. Muell.) Swingle Mikrocitrus
Finger, Finger lime, Lime digité d'Australie, Limetta digitiforme australiana, Queensland Finger, Queensland native
'Australische finger limete' was discovered by F. von Müller in Moreton Bay, Queensland. It grows wildly in rainforests of northern Australia, where it can reach mature height up to 10m. Young seedlings usually form only overhanging branches with thorns, strangely shaped leaves and short internodes. After the slow and strange initial growth they produce one or more new, young, purple-red vertical shoots with plenty of leaves and start growing in a new profile. Mature plants usually form sharp spikes (7-12mm) very close to the leaf buds where they protect and cover the emerging blossoms. This particular variety resembles microcitrus 'Australian round', which grows higher and has less elongated fruit than 'Australische finger limete' (6-10cm long, very narrow, only about 1,5-2,5cm in girth).
Yellow- green pericarp of 'Australische finger limete' is somewhat thick, tough with numerous essential oils sacs, whereas its yellow-green pulp is quite soft and typically divided into 5-8 segments. The juice inside the fruit is under such pressure, that it splashes, when the fruit is cut or otherwise damaged. Flesh also contains lots of acids, almost no sugars and approximately 82 mg/100 g pulp of vitamin C. There are numerous seeds inside the pulp though and probably the most interesting fact about the fruit is the fact, that it is variable, almost no factor (color, amount of segments, seeds...) is constant and varies unpredictably. That's why a pigmented variety called 'Red pulp finger' is considered to be only a clone.
Australians eat this fruit usually fresh from the tree. For other, numerous advantages this variety has, it's often used as a rootstock. It thrives in high temperatures, dry air and is suitable for growing indoors and shaping into bonsai. There are also some hybrids such as 'Sydney hybrid wild', a cross with M. australis (A. Cunn. ex Mudie) Swingle.
New taxonomy of citruses says that this variety is to be called Citrus australasica (F. Muell.) Swingle and the other, pigmented variety 'Red pulp finger' is only a clone.
Australian round Microcitrus australis (A. Cunn. ex Mudie) Swingle Mikrocitrus
Australian sweet, Dooja, Gympie, Limetta rotonda, Limetta rotonda australiana, Round
Citrus australis originates in Queensland, Australia. Targioni Tozzetti wrote a work in 1853 about a new citrus called Citrus australis, which was brought to his garden on Servi Street, Florence from Germany by Count di Bourtlain. It was widely distributed after 1841, at first to the Botanical Garden in Florence and then also to other gardens in Pisa, Bologni, Modena and Neapol.
Citrus australis likes dry climates, even drier than microcitrus 'Australian finger' and surprisingly isn't damaged by cold weather. It is a high, narrow tree (9-18m) that grows on the borders of Brisbane rainforests and further to the north. Citrus australis has strong, leathery leaves with certain specific characteristics; they are narrow and long on young trees and much wider when the tree matures (2,5-5cm long). It has purple young shoots and small, white, individually growing flowers that later form spherical, 2,5-8cm long in diameter fruit that has yellow-green skin with lots of pores. Its rind is used as spices and sometimes also stewed. Citrus australis' pulp is usually sour with a hint of bitterness; it is divided in 5-6 segments.
The fruit is usually eaten fresh. This citrus has also been tested as rootstock (only past few years) and its new taxonomical name is Citrus australis (A. Cunn. ex Mudie) Swingle.
Australian desert Eremocitrus glauca (Lindl.) Swingle Eremocitrus
Desert, Desert lime, Lime du désert australien
It's an Australian endemic citrus originating in southern New Wales and Queensland. Many botanists even believe that it has been growing in Australia for more than 20 million years. Of all the citruses there are, this one has the shortest vegetation period and can withstand temperatures as high as 45°C and as low as -8°C (many authors claim it to be -20°C).
It was discovered in 1846 by Mr. Mitchel in eastern Australia, where it grows erratically and is difficult to describe, as it grows variably in various climates. Citrus glauca also has certain tendency to create a dense, strong, spherical crown with lots of spikes on the branches and it can even produce more trunks from one root system, each of them up to 12m in full maturity. Its gray-green leaves with thick, leathery skin are quite narrow, oblong and smooth. Branches are covered with strong spikes that can occasionally be even 8cm long. It blooms with unique, small, white monoclinous flowers that form an edible, ripe fruit within 8 weeks after successful pollination. Citrus glauca's fruit is very similar to that of limes, it's spherical or slightly flattened and has around 2-2,5cm in diameter. Its rind is very thin and usually colored either yellow-green or dark yellow. The pulp is yellow, massive, very juicy, pleasantly sour and sometimes with a hint of bitterness. Each fruit has typically 5 segments and little or no seeds.
Citrus glauca's fruit is used in marmalades and various drinks, was also bred with numerous other citruses and can be easily grafted on other citruses and also many members of Microcitrus family. It can withstand extremely dry and alkaline soils, even desert sand (it tends to drop leaves in such soils though). Because it starts its vegetation period later than Poncirus, it could be an interesting future rootstock variety. Its new taxonomical name is Citrus glauca (Lindl.) Swingle.
C.glauca x Shekvasha mandarina
Grafts were brought to Europe by German B. Voss from.
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Large-leaf Australian wild Microcitrus inodora (F. M. Bail.) Swingle Mikrocitrus
Large Leaf, Russel River, Russell River
Citrus inodora originates in Queensland and grows both in low plains and higher mountains of Australian rainforests. It was named (inodora = odourless) because its flowers lack the typical citrus blossom fragrance.
Citrus inodora is either a high shrub or a very small tree that grows to 2-4 m. It has large leaves with very narrow petioles. The oval or oblong fruit is usually small or medium sized (2,5-6,5 cm) and can have plentiful ridges in its green rind. Its pleasant and tasty pulp is very juicy, sour and usually divided into 8 segments. This variety is unique, when compared to other Microcitruses (except M. maideniana (Domin) Swingle)), because it has 2 spikes next to each leaf axil. Citrus inodora is protected by law, mainly because it is so unique and endangered. New taxonomical name is Citrus inodora (F. M. Bail.) Swingle.
Citrangeremo Citrangeremo Citranžeremo
Grafts of this variety were brought to Europe by German B. Voss. This particular plant hasn't fruited in our climate yet, but it grows very vigorously and its seedlings can also be used as rootstock.s
Coachella Eremolemon Eremolemon
Eremolemon is a cross of E. glaucum (Lindl.) Swingle and lemon 'Meyer'. It was bred in USA and is an erect, high, vigorous tree with simple, spear-shaped medium sized leaves. Eremolemon stands well in dry climates and can supposedly survive temperatures falling down to -5°C. Its fruit is small (2-2,5cm), almost spherical, slightly flattened and has thin, yellow rind. The pulp is very juicy, sour, aromatic and is usually divided into 5-6 segments containing 1-3 seeds.
Seedlings of this variety are surprisingly similarly strong and vigorous. It is a perfect indoor variety in our climate.
Eremorange Eremorange Eremoranž
'Eremoorange' is probably a natural cross of C. glauca with C. sinensis. Its grafts were brought to Europe by German B. Voss.
Faustrime Faustrime Faustrime
Frey
'Faustrime' is a wide and high tree with purple young shoots. Its maternal variety could be limequat 'Eustis' or also sour lime and it produces usually small (2-4,5cm), significantly elongated fruit with dark yellow rind full of essential oils. The pulp is usually solid green, quite soft and very aromatic; it contains only few or no seeds. Although 'Faustrime' is highly susceptible to tristeza (CTV), it can also be used as rootstock (the best results were achieved with oranges and lemons).
Faustrimedin Faustrimedin Faustrimedin
'Faustrimedin' is wide and robust tree with purple young shoots. Its fruit resembles that of microcitrus 'Australian finger', but is slightly bigger, less oblong and stubbier. It has smooth, very thin orange rind and green, juicy, sour pulp with a few seeds. It's really easy to graft this variety.
Sydney hybrid wild Rofaustrime Rofaustrim
Lemon-shaped Australian wild, Lime sauvage hybride de Sydney, Sydney Hybrid, Virgata
'Sydney hybrid' is a very vigorous, wide and high tree that grows well even in hostile climates and has purple young shoots. It is incredibly drought resistant and produces rather small (3-5cm), oval, lemon-like fruit. Its yellow-green rind is very thin and contains lots of essential oils. The pulp is somewhat aromatic, sour and incredibly juicy. Until it was confirmed, that this variety was indeed a cross, it had been considered an individual cultivar called M. virgata Swingle & Reece.
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