The mandarin tree (Citrus reticulata) is a small tree of the rue family, native to South-East Asia and the Philippines, cultivated worldwide for its sweet, aromatic fruit, the mandarin.
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Magnoliophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Sapindales |
| Family | Rutaceae |
| Genus | Citrus |
| Species | Citrus reticulata |
The mandarin tree is a small tree (2 to 6 metres tall), with a frequently twisted trunk. Its leaves are oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, 3.5 to 8 cm long. Its flowers have 5 white petals and are highly perfumed.
Its fruit, the mandarin, is globose, 5 to 8 cm in diameter, with thin, glossy skin that is yellowish, orange or reddish-orange. The pulp is made up of juicy segments rich in vitamin C, flavonoids and essential oils.
It is native to South-East Asia and the Philippines. Today it is widely cultivated in many regions with warm and subtropical climates, China being the world's largest producer; in Spain it is extensively grown in Mediterranean areas.
The species was scientifically described by the botanist Francisco Manuel Blanco, who published it in his work Flora de Filipinas in 1837. The common name “mandarin” is also applied to the fruits of the hybrid Citrus × tangerina.
