Willits Citrange: History | World of Citrus

1897Eustis, Florida, United States
Cross Made
The 1909 account reports that Morton hybrid No. 771 developed from another seed of the same hybrid fruit as Willits No. 777 and says Walter T. Swingle pollinated that original Trifoliate orange × sweet-orange fruit at Eustis. Cooper, Reece, and Furr (1962) place Willits among eleven named citranges in an 1897 series. These retrospective reports support the shared-fruit pollination account; they do not establish accession-level molecular parentage.
- Walter T. SwingleBreeder
  The 1909 account attributes pollination of the original Poncirus × sweet-orange fruit from which the Morton and Willits seedlings came to Walter T. Swingle at Eustis.
Sources: ⁠[1]⁠[5]⁠[6]
1905United States
Introduced
The USDA Bureau of Plant Industry’s 1905 circular, dated February 25, states that it accompanied trees distributed for preliminary trial. This documents a 1905 distribution notice. The circular does not establish the date of the first shipment.
- USDA Bureau of Plant IndustryIntroducer
  The 1905 USDA circular includes Willits citrange among trees proposed for distribution to cooperators. The circular does not establish the date of the first shipment.
Sources: ⁠[4]
Date unknown
Other
The 1904 Yearbook account says the writers proposed the name Willits, subject to the Secretary’s approval, and reports that Gardner had called the selection “Swingle” in the July 1904 Cosmopolitan Magazine. This records the naming account and an earlier competing name; it does not establish the date of formal adoption.
- Herbert J. WebberDeveloper
  Co-described Willits in the early USDA citrange literature.
- Walter T. SwingleDeveloper
  Co-described Willits in the early USDA citrange literature.
Sources: ⁠[1]

Cross Made

Introduced

Other

Cross Made

Introduced

Other