What is the difference between Shatian pomelo and grapefruit? A quick guide to tell them apart

1. Leaf differences

Young Shatian pomelo leaves are usually dark purplish-red; the leaves are fairly thick and dark green, broadly ovate or elliptic, 9 to 16 cm long including the winged petiole and 4 to 8 cm wide. The leaf tip is blunt or rounded, and some leaves have a short point; the leaf base is rounded, and the winged petiole is 2 to 4 cm long and 0.5 to 3 cm wide.

Grapefruit leaves are large, ovate, thickly leathery, with winged petioles; the leaves are dark green and glossy on the surface.

2. Flower differences

Shatian pomelo has racemes, sometimes with axillary single flowers; the buds are pale purplish-red, occasionally milky white; the calyx has irregular 3 to 5 shallow lobes; the petals are 1.5 to 2 cm long, and the flowers are white.

Grapefruit flowers are very small, white, and borne in cymes.

3. Fruit differences

Shatian pomelo fruit is spherical, pear-shaped, oblate or broadly conical, usually more than 10 cm in diameter, pale yellow or yellow-green; the peel is spongy with large, raised oil glands; the core has 10 to 15 segments or more; the juice sacs are white, pink or bright red, with a few creamy yellow ones.

Grapefruit fruit is spherical or oblate; the peel is yellow, and the flesh is pale pinkish-white.