Orange Mandarine

Pear

Orange Mandarine

Origin/History

Raised from seed by Leroy at Angers, France, and fruited first in 1863. Described in Leroy's Dictionnaire de Pomologie (2:483, 1869) and Hogg's Fruit Manual (625, 1884); Downing's description is drawn from Hogg.

Tree

Not described in sources.

Fruit

Size: Downing describes the fruit as about medium. Hedrick gives it as below medium and sometimes a little larger.

Form: Roundish (Downing); globular, rather regular in outline, more or less mammillate at the summit (Hedrick).

Stem: Not described in sources.

Cavity: Not described in sources.

Calyx: Not described in sources.

Basin: Not described in sources.

Skin: Both sources agree on a yellow ground with russet development on the sun-exposed side and brown dots over the surface, though with some variation in description. Downing gives the color as golden yellow, with many brown russet dots and a warm glow on the side next the sun. Hedrick describes it as pale yellow, passing to clear russet on the cheek exposed to the sun, and covered with minute brown dots.

Flesh and Flavor: The flesh color is given differently by the two sources: Downing describes it as yellowish, while Hedrick describes it as white. Both agree it is very melting. Hedrick adds that it is very fine and slightly gritty at the center. The juice is abundant, saccharine, and acidulous (Hedrick), described by Downing as acidulous and sugary. Hedrick notes the juice is endowed with an exquisite perfume. Hedrick rates the quality as first.

Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.

Season

October (both sources).

Uses

Not described in sources.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in sources.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Orange Mandarine.

Fruit about medium, roundish, golden yellow, with many brown russet dots, and a warm glow on the side next the sun. Flesh yellowish, very tender, melting, acidulous, sugary. October. (Hogg.)

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Orange Mandarine, i. Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:483, fig. 1869. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 625. 1884. Raised from seed by Leroy at Angers, Fr., and fruited first in 1863. Fruit below medium and sometimes a little larger, globular, rather regular in outline, more or less mammillate at the summit, pale yellow, passing to clear russet on the cheek exposed to the sun, and covered with minute brown dots; flesh white, very fine and very melting, slightly gritty at the center; juice abundant, saccharine, acidulous, endowed with an exquisite perfume; first; Oct.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)