23 



Description and Habitat 



Young shoots pubescent, leaflet large ovate-oblong, fre- 

 quently eraarglnate, pubescent beneath, petiole broadly winged, 

 flov/ers large white, stamens 16-24, fruit large pale globose 

 or pyriforra, rind thlcK, pulp pale, sweet or acrid. 



Commonly cultivated in India. A native of the Malaya 

 and Polynesian Islands. 



A tree 30-40 ft., leaflets 6-9 in. Fruit often very 

 lai-ge, pulp yellow pink or crimson, sweet or acrid, vesicles 

 distinct . 



Nomenclature 



The word has been variously spelled purnraelo, pumalo, 

 pumelo, pumelow. etc., but pomelo Is the spelling recognized 

 by the United States Department of Agricultui-'e, the Aijserlcan 

 Pomologlcal Society and other distinguished bodies. 



In regard to the origin of the name Bonava in his 

 "Oranges and Lemons of India and Ceylon" makes the following 

 remark : "The w/ord pummelo is, of course, a corruption of the 

 Dutch POiflpelmoes through Purameluose, by first making It 

 Pumraelos and then turning it into the sungular "Pummelo." To 

 the French the fruit is known by the name of Bo mpelrroujse , 

 RumphiuB In 1750 applied the Dutch name pompelraoes to the 

 fruit. Pomelo is considered by some to be a contraction of 

 pomum melo, the melon apple. 



Commercially In America the fruit is known as grape fruit- 

 This appellation v/as given because the fruit Is so frequently 



