Traces its origin to a seedling tree growing in the orchard of Colonel G. L. Dancy of Orange Mills in 1867. Its parent was a mandarin tree, known as the Moragne "tangierine," reported to have been growing in the orchard of N. H. Moragne as early as 1843. This tree is believed to have been introduced from Tangiers, Morocco by Major Atway, the previous owner of the Moragne property. Regardless of this variety's tangled history, its reputed origin of Tangiers gave rise to the term "tangerine" which today seems to refer to any mandarin, not just Dancy. A large, vigorous, densely-foliated tree, with a tendency to alternate-bearing. The fruit is usually medium in size and oblate to obovoid in form. The thin, smooth rind is reddish-orange at maturity and easily peeled. The flesh is a deep orange color, with a rich flavor. The fruits usually contain a moderate number of seeds. Dancy fruits mature midseason and do not hold well on the tree although the fruits themselves store quite well after harvest. Fruit size of Dancy is quite variable, depending upon crop load on the tree. An average size would be 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter. The rind has a deep reddish-orange color at maturity and easily peeled due to the thin, leather peel. These same characteristics make the fruit easy to damage at harvest and the fruit are usually clipped so as to prevent peel tearing or plugging. There are always a few seeds in each fruit ranging from a low of around six to perhaps as many as 20. The fruit shape is somewhat flattened and often somewhat pear-shaped due to the development of a neck at the stem end. The apex of the fruit is usually depressed. The fruit surface is smooth and glossy until almost over mature when it may become bumpy. The variety has a tendency to be alternate bearing. Crop thinning by judicious pruning is advised in these situations. Dancy produces a rather large tree at maturity and tends to be vigorous with an upright growth habit. The tree is nearly thornless with thick foliage. The tree is moderately cold-hardy, but the thin-skinned fruit are not. Dancy is self-fruitful and therefore requires no other pollinizer trees nearby to enhance productivity.