Micronesian Names by Island or Island Groups: Jabong or Siabong (Palau), Gurgur or Pamelo(Yap), Kahet magas or Lalanha Lalangha (Mariana Islands), Kurukur (Chuuk), Pamelo (Marshall Islands)

Description: The Pomelo or Pummelo tree (Citrus maxima) is medium-sized with a roundish crown. It is the largest and most cold-intolerant of all Citrus species, with large leaves, flowers and fruits. C. maxima can grow to heights of 5-15 m (~15-50 ft) and produces large, evergreen, oblong to elliptic leaves which are about 10-20 cm (4-8 in) long with winged petioles (leaf stems). The flowers and fruits of the Pomelo tree are borne singly, in contrast to the grapefruit tree (C. x paradisi), on which these grow in clusters of 2-20. The Pomelo fruits vary from round to pear-shaped and ripen to yellow, orange, or red. They can be quite large with diameters up to 30 cm (12 in) or more in diameter, and weighing up to 9 kg (~20 lbs).

Distribution: Pomelo (C. maxima) is probably native to southern China and Malaysia (and possibly other parts of Southeast Asia). It may have been an aboriginal (pre-European contact) introduction into a number of Pacific Islands, including Fiji and Western Polynesia, as well as being a post European-contact introduction into other tropical islands in the Pacific region. Pomelo trees are now cultivated in many tropical and semi-tropical countries for their large edible fruits, and are often confused with grapefruit trees, from which it can generally be distinguished by its larger fruit size with thicker rinds, milder, sweetish flavor and tough, bitter membranes which are often considered to be unpalatable (it is worth noting here that genetic analyses indicates that the grapefruit tree, C. x paradise, resulted from a hybrid cross, probably unintentional, between a sweet orange tree, C. sinensis, and a pomelo tree, C. maxima). Today pomelo trees are found occasionally in some tropical Pacific Island garden areas, mature fallow forests, and secondary forests where it seems to be naturalized.

Uses by Island or Island Group:The greenish yellow, yellow, pink or red flesh of the Pomelo fruit is often juicy normally divided into 11-18 segments. Its flavor is sweet to somewhat acidic, and similar to other Citrus fruits, pomelos are high in vitamin C. Normally they are eaten as a fresh fruit, but they can store well. Its juice is also used in various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and its sizeable peel may be candied. Parts of the pomelo tree have been used traditional medicine for treatment of coughs, fevers, and gastrointestinal disorders.