Details for: PI 658367, Citrus ×aurantium L. var. sinensis L., 'AUSTRALIAN NUCELLAR'

"[Australian navel orange] has been used indiscriminately to designate several navel orange types, all of which are very vigorous, upright growers, but shy bearers of rough, coarse fruits. The name was first applied unwittingly to a navel orange introduced from Australia which supposedly was the superior Brazilian orange that we now know as the Washington navel. Owing to the vigorous tree growth of these worthless strains, they were unintentionally propagated extensively before methods of bud selection based on fruit character and yield were introduced." (Webber, 1943, p 526-527)

"In general, the fruits are smaller than Washington, flatter in form, and sometimes broadly pointed at the apex. The navel is smaller and more deeply embedded, and the rind is thicker and rougher. The flesh is softer in texture and commonly juicier than Washington, and the season of maturity is considerably later, the flavor remaining tart until late in the season...The origin of this type of navel orange is obscure, but it is known to have gone from Brazil to Australia, from whence it was probably taken to California and South Africa. It may have originated in Brazil, as did the Washington variety, but it seems more likely to have been taken to Brazil from Portugal where a navel orange variety has long existed (Risso and Poiteau, 1818-22)." (Hodgson, 1967)

(RRK, 08/2007)