Grapefruit and pomelo

Grapefruit and pomelo indicates in French two types of Fruit S whose names can be confused coming from two species different from the kind Citrus from the family from the Rutaceae . These fruits are commercially named “Agrume” following the example Citron S, orange S and Mandarine S:

maximum Citrus (also grown Citruses or Citrus decumana ) is a Fruit tree named grapefruit tree. It is resulting from Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia). Its fruit with the thick bark of color yellow, dew or greenish is a edible bay very acid (like a lemon), made up from 16 to 18 districts filled with pips.

Citrus ×paradisi is a Hybride between the soft grapefruit tree and orange tree ( maximum Citrus × Citrus sinensis ). Its fruit, with the thin bark of yellow or pink color is a slightly sweetened edible bay made up of a dozen districts. It pushes in bunches from where its English name of “ grapefruit ”.

Etymology and origin of confusion

The word “grapefruit” is borrowed from Dutch “pompelmoes”, itself composed using pompel, “large”, and limoes, “lemon”. The word is attested in French as of the end of the 17th century century to indicate C. maximum , then at the 20th century to also indicate C. paradisi .

The word pomelo is borrowed from English out of pomelo ; its origin is dubious: some suggested a composition apple - Melon , assumption considered to be doubtful, because such a forever attested made up form; others a deterioration of the Dutch word pompelmoes . The word pomelo is attested in English at the beginning of the 19th century century in the form pomelo , and indicated initially C. maximum , but also C. paradisi during second half of the 19th century. In French, the term made its appearance at the beginning of the 20th century.

The word “pomelo” however remained little known for a long time of the public, and the C. paradisi were marketed under the name of grapefruit , as this quotation attests it going back to 1968: “The horticultural Encyclopedia (...) additions that on the European markets, in particular in France, the “grapefruits” are sold under the name of grapefruit. Their scientific name “pomelo”, is obviously known only specialists. ” (Ac. Edge-Fr. 1968). , that in Quebec. Confusion is accentuated by the current use of pomelo in English to indicate C. maximum .

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