Mangshanyegan facts for kids

The mangshanyegan (Chinese: 莽山野柑; Citrus mangshanensis) is a special type of wild citrus fruit. It's like a cousin to oranges and lemons. This unique fruit grows in the mountains and is quite rare.

Discovering the Mangshanyegan

This interesting fruit was first found in the 1980s. It was discovered in the mountain forests of Mangshan. This area is located in the Hunan province of China. Scientists were excited to find a new kind of citrus.

Where Does It Grow?

The mangshanyegan loves to grow in wild mountain areas. Its natural home is in the forests of Mangshan. This makes it a truly wild fruit. It's not something you'd usually find in a regular fruit market.

A Unique Citrus Fruit

Even though the mangshanyegan looks a bit like a mandarin orange, it's actually very different. Scientists have studied its genes. They found that it's a "pure" citrus species. This means it's not a mix of two other citrus fruits. Many common citrus fruits, like some oranges, are actually hybrids.

How It's Different

The mangshanyegan separated from other citrus fruits a very long time ago. This happened during a period called the Late Miocene. Think of it like a very old branch on the citrus family tree. It's one of the original types of citrus. This makes it very important for understanding how citrus fruits developed.

Related Wild Fruits

In the same region, there's another wild citrus fruit called the yuanju. The mangshanyegan is genetically similar to this fruit. Sometimes, people get the mangshanyegan mixed up with other wild mandarins from the same area. But scientists now know they are distinct species.