Indian wild orange – Citrus medica x (Citrus hystrix x Citrus reticulata)

Description

Description

Indian wild orange (Citrus medica x (Citrus hystrix x Citrus reticulata)), also known as Citrus indica, is a wild Citrus native to northeast India, in the Garo hills. The Garo hills are famous for being one of the wettest places on Earth and being near one of the centers of origin for all Citrus. Indian wild orange is not an orange at all and is actually a very unusual wild hybrid. It is extremely rare in cultivation. It was long believed to be a true wild Citrus species, and so was considered a possible ancestor of other Citrus. However modern genomic testing has revealed it has a tri-hybrid origin, with a citron mother, and a papeda-mandarin father.

As far as I’m aware, Indian wild orange is one of the only citron-mother natural hybrids in existence (it’s the only one I am aware of). Citrons are cleistogamous (they self-pollinate before the flowers open), so it’s almost not possible for natural hybrids with a citron mother to form. Citron is in every other case the male parent. The fact this hybrid exists is a small miracle.

Indian wild orange may have some rootstock potential, and is used sometimes locally in India as a rootstock.

Indian wild orange as a fruit is generally small and sour, with slightly bitter juice  (but see below paragraph for why this doesn’t matter that much).

Indian wild orange are monoembryonic and heterozygous. As a result, all of the seedlings will vary, and almost none will be like the mother tree (but the genes will be present in the seedlings). There is potential for all kinds of unusual Citrus to come out. Some seedlings will be from self-pollination and may contain mostly citron genes, thus resembling Indian citrons. Others may end up displaying more mandarin and papeda characteristics. Yet others may be hybridized with commercial orange and mandarin varieties and so be highly edible with unique flavours. See our article on Nucellar embryony for further explanation.

Seeds per packet: 10

Germination Instructions

Upon receipt of these Citrus seeds, either

1. Soak them in water for a few days until they swell. After soaking for a few days (with a few water changes), plant the seeds directly into a seed raising mix, and keep warm, and they will sprout after 2-3 weeks
2. Direct sow into seed raising mix, misting regularly for about a week to ensure the seeds are well hydrated. Keep warm, and they will sprout after 2-3 weeks.

These seeds were treated with Thiram fungicide (bright green) before export, so make sure to wash your hands after touching them.