The mandarin tree (Rutaceae family) is a small evergreen tree that grows to 5 to 8 meters tall. It is a very old cultivated variety that originated in Indochina or the Philippines. The smell of mandarin peel is very fine. The flesh is sweet and fragrant and one of the least acidic citrus fruits. Introduced into Europe around 1840, the mandarin tree is now superseded by its hybrids, such as the clementine - a cross between the bitter orange and mandarin.

Botanist's Glossary