The satsuma mandarin (Citrus reticulata) was first introduced to the United States from Japan in 1876. Satsumas produce fragrant white blossoms in March and April. These trees are also green throughout the year. The fruit turns bright orange as it ripens in late October.

The fruit is juicy and very sweet, low in acid, and almost seedless, with an average of only 1.5 seeds per orange. The fruit from a young tree averages 1.8 inches in diameter, approximately three-quarters the size of a tennis ball. With its smooth, thin, lightly attached skin, satsumas have become known as the "kid-glove or zipper-skin citrus" due to the ease with which the skin can be removed and internal segments separated.

External link

• The Satsuma Tangerine - University of Florida