Grapefruit, common name for the fruit of a variety of citrus. The variety
probably originated in Jamaica; it was introduced to Florida in the 16th
century by Spaniards. Grapefruits are borne on small trees that rarely exceed
6 m (20 ft) in height. The dense foliage consists of shiny, dark-green leaves
with winged petioles. The large white flowers produce yellow, globe-shaped
fruit in grapelike clusters. The fruits vary from 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) in
diameter and consist of a juicy, acid pulp surrounded by a leathery rind.
The color of the pulp is normally light yellow, but a few pink-pulped varieties
have been developed.
More than 20 varieties of grapefruit have been propagated in the United States.
The major yellow-pulped varieties are Duncan and Marsh; the major pink-pulped
varieties are Ruby and Webb. The grapefruit is readily crossed with other
members of the citrus genus. The tangelo, a Florida juice fruit, was produced
by fertilization of grapefruit flowers with mandarin orange pollen.
Grapefruit is a cross between a sweet orange and a pummelo and was introduced to
Florida from the Bahamas by Count Odette Phillppe in 1823. It's believed that
grapefruit originated in the West Indies. There are two main western varieties
(Ruby Red and Marsh White) and two recently developed varieties (Star Ruby and
Rio). All are sweet, juicy and seedless. Grapefruit is low in calories which
makes it great for dieting.
Practically all grapefruit in the United States is grown in Florida,
California, Arizona, and Texas.
Basic Nutritional Facts:
· Grapefruit is a low-calorie food
· an excellent source of vitamin C
· a good source of inositol
· a member of the vitamin B complex
· It is a common breakfast fruit, salad fruit, or juice fruit.
Detailed nutritional informatin can be found by searching the
USDA Nutritional Database
. Enter "Grapefruit" (no quotes) as the keyword and select the link and report
of interest.
Scientific classification:
The grapefruit is classified as a variety of Citrus maxima.
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