Japanese name: グレープフルーツ Scientific name:Citrus paradisi
[Overview]
An evergreen tree grown as a fruit tree.
It is a species of hybrid origin said to have arisen in the West Indies around the 18th century.
Theories on the origin of the name include that the fruits borne in clusters were likened to grapes, and that the aroma of the fruit resembles that of grapes.
The alternate leaves look simple, but they are degenerated compound leaves, with entire margins.
The flowers are borne in racemes and are white with 5 petals.
Many stamens are fused up to the middle of the filaments, forming a staminal tube.
The fruit is large and spherical, and the peel may be tinged with red.
[Uses]
The flesh is juicy and has a refreshing fragrance; it is eaten raw or used as a material for processing into juice and other products.
[Cultivation]
It is a food plant of swallowtail butterflies.
