Ichang papeda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ichang papeda
Scientific classification
Genus:	Citrus
Species:	cavaleriei
Synonyms
Citrus ichangensis (Swingle) Citrus hongheensis (Ye)

The Citrus cavaleriei, also known as the Ichang papeda, is a special type of citrus plant. It grows slowly and has leaves and flowers that smell like lemons.

This plant comes from southwestern and west-central China. It is probably named after the city of Yichang in China's Hubei province.

The Ichang papeda is famous for being very tough. It is one of the hardiest citrus plants, meaning it can handle cold weather and damp conditions better than most other citrus plants. Only the Poncirus trifoliata is tougher.

What it Looks Like

The Ichang papeda is not grown very often. It can be a large bush or a small tree, growing about 3 to 4.5 meters tall. It produces a small fruit that looks a bit like a Mandarin orange.

Its leaves have a wide stem part called a petiole. They look similar to the leaves of the yuzu and the kaffir lime. The fruit has a strong smell and a rough skin. It can be oval, round, or flat. When ripe, it turns yellow or orange.

Inside, the fruit has many large seeds. It usually has only a little bit of bitter or sour juice. Some fruits might not have any juice at all. Instead, they are filled with a soft, spongy material and seeds. People sometimes grow the Ichang papeda just because it looks nice.

Ichang papeda fruits

Amazing Hybrids

The Ichang papeda has been mixed with many other citrus plants. This is often done to create new types of citrus that can handle cold weather better. Many of these mixed plants are also used in cooking.

Here are some cool examples:

• Kabosu: This fruit is a mix of Ichang papeda and a Bitter orange.
• Shangjuan: Also called the Ichang lemon, this is a mix of Ichang papeda and a Pomelo.
• Yuzu: This is a natural mix of Ichang papeda and a Mandarin orange.
  • Hyuganatsu: This fruit is a mix of Yuzu and a Pomelo.
    • Haruka: This is a mix of Hyuganatsu and Natsudaidai.
  • Jabara: This is another mix of Yuzu and a Mandarin orange.
  • Sudachi: This fruit is a mix of Yuzu and a Koji or Tachibana orange.