Pomelo
Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.
Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr., commonly known as pomelo or shaddock, is a species in the Rutaceae family. It is the largest citrus fruit and is native to Southeast Asia. The species is widely distributed and cultivated in regions such as China, India, Southeast Asia, and beyond. It is a natural citrus species, not a hybrid, and is an ancestor of cultivated citrus fruits like the bitter orange and grapefruit. The fruit is consumed fresh and used in festive occasions in East and Southeast Asia. Phytochemicals in the pomelo may interact with certain drugs.
Description
Citrus maxima is a member of the Rutaceae family and is known for producing the largest citrus fruit. It is native to Southeast Asia and has a broad distribution across tropical and subtropical regions. The fruit is similar in taste to a sweet grapefruit and is used in various culinary and cultural contexts. The species was described in 1917 and has a complex nomenclatural history, including a superfluous renaming and a correction of the specific epithet from 'decumanus' to 'maxima'.
Other common names
Pomelopummeloshaddock
Distribution
Boyacá; Santa maría · SC · BF · SE · MV · RW · ST · BR · CO · EC · Global · TW · LA · Andaman Is. · Assam · Bangladesh · Bolivia · Borneo · Cambodia · China South-Central · China Southeast · Christmas I. · Cuba · Dominican Republic · East Himalaya · Fiji · Galápagos · Gambia · Hainan · Haiti
Synonyms
Sarcodactilis helicteroidesAurantium decumanaAurantium maximumCitrus aurantium var. decumanaCitrus aurantium var. grandisCitrus aurantium f. grandisCitrus costataCitrus decumanaCitrus grandisCitrus grandis var. sabonCitrus grandis var. yamabukiCitrus obovoideaCitrus pompelmosCitrus sabonCitrus yamabukiCitrus grandis f. buntanAurantium decumanumCitrus grandis var. sphaerocarposCitrus grandis var. oblonga
