Pummelo Wingleaf

Pummelo Wingleaf

　　    Commonly known as "A-lei" (in the Hani language), the Honghe Pummelo Wingleaf was discovered in 1975 by the Citrus Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Horticulture Research Institute of the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and other organizations in Leqing Township, Honghe County.

It was officially named the Honghe Pummelo Wingleaf in 1976. This evergreen tree is primarily characterized by its wing leaves being larger than its main leaves, with wing leaves measuring 12–18 centimeters—about 2–3 times the length of the main leaves. The fruit is nearly spherical to flattened-round, with relatively thick skin, and grows in the wild. The fruit has a sour, slightly bitter taste, and most are inedible.

The Hani people use the leaves as a spicy seasoning to remove the gaminess of meat. The tree can also serve as a rootstock for citrus. The discovery of the Honghe Pummelo Wingleaf proves that China possesses abundant primitive citrus germplasm resources.