Most botanists agree that the grapefruit is a cross between a
Pummelo (see http://pas.byu.edu/pas100/pummelo.htm)
and a sweet orange (see http://www.floridata.com/ref/C/citr_sin.cfm.)
Grapefruit, like all citrus fruit, is a Hesperidum, or a large
modified berry with a thick rind.
If you see grapefruit growing on a tree, you will notice that
they grow in clusters. It is suggested that these clusters resemble
the shape of large yellow grapes and so the fruit was called a
grapefruit. Another explanation is that the premature grapefruit
looks similar in shape to unripe green grapes.
Related
Web Sites |
- Facts
about Citrus Fruits and Juices: Grapefruit - This
PDF document from the Cooperative Extension Service,
University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences (UF/IFAS) “provides a description of
grapefruit and its varieties, tips, storage, health
benefits, and suggestions for incorporating grapefruit
juice into a healthy diet. A brief summary addressing
grapefruit juice/drug interactions is included.”
- Florida
Fresh: Grapefruit - “This is one of a series
of publications featuring uses and facts about fruits
and vegetables commonly found at Florida farmers' markets” from
the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida,
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
The document is in PDF format.
- Grapefruit -
EDIS (Electronic Data Information
Source,) at the University of Florida, provides information
on the history, distribution, description, and cultivars
of
grapefruit.
|
Further
Reading |
- Johns,
Leslie, and Violet Stevenson. Grapefruit. In The
Complete book of fruit. London, Angus and Robertson
Publishers, 1979: p. 148-150.
- Magness,
J.R. How fruit came to America. National geographic
magazine, v. 100, September 1951: 327-377. (Discussion
of grapefruit is on p. 354-355)
- Morton,
Julia Frances. Grapefruit. In Fruits of warm climates. Miami,
FL, J. F. Morton, c1987: p. 152–158.
Can be accessed online at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/grapefruit.html
- Sinclair,
Walton B. The Grapefruit: its composition, physiology,
and products. Berkeley, University of California,
Division of Agricultural Sciences, 1972. 660 p.
- Tolkowsky,
Samuel. Hesperides; a history of the culture and
use of citrus fruits. London, J.Bale, sons & Curnow,
1938. 371 p.
|
For
more print resources...
Search on "grapefruit" and "citrus
fruit"
in the Library of Congress Online
Catalog. |
Grapefruit. From
the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Web site.
Grapefruit Clusters. Prints & Photographs Division, Library
of Congress.
A beneficiary of the Red Cross drought relief
work in Mississippi, c. 1930. Prints & Photographs Division,
Library of Congress.
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