Citrus maxima (Pomelo) x Citrus microcarpa (Calamansi/Orange Lime) x Citrus japonica (Kumquat) x Cucumis melo (Melon)

Citrus maxima, commonly known as the pomelo or pummelo, is the largest citrus fruit from the family Rutaceae and the main ancestor of the grapefruit. It is a citrus fruit, native to Southeast Asia. Citrus maxima is a low-branching, evergreen tree growing 5-10 metres tall with occasional specimens up to 15 metres. The tree is widely cultivated for its edible fruit in tropical and subtropical regions. It is usually eaten in Asia during festivals such as Mid-Autumn Festival as the shape of the fruit is auspicious and part of the peel may be candied. The aromatic flowers are used to make perfume and essential oil, and the fruit is a source of pectin. There are a number of medicinal applications using the leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds, including the treatment of coughs, fevers and gastric disorders.

Citrus microcarpa, commonly known as calamansi, also known as calamondin or Philippine lemon, is an economically significant citrus hybrid, mainly cultivated in the Philippines. Sometimes called orange lime, it is native to the Philippines and Borneo, as well as southern China and Taiwan. Calamansi is a hybrid between kumquat and another species of Citrus. Genus Citrus refers to the lemon-scented fragrance from the plant, and species microcarpa means small-fruited. Citrus microcarpa is a shrub or small tree growing to 3–6 metres. The fruit resembles a small, round lime, the centre pulp and juice are the orange colour of a tangerine, and the orange peel is very thin when ripe. The fruit itself is quite sour, but the peel is sweet. It is ubiquitous in traditional Filipino cuisine and is used in various condiments, beverages, dishes, marinades and preserves. It is also used as an ingredient in Malaysian and Indonesian cuisines. Citrus microcarpa is high in vitamin C and the juice is used to relieve coughs and colds.

Citrus japonica, common name kumquat within the family Rutaceae, is a small, evergreen tree native to southern and eastern Asia. The first record of this plant is in Chinese literature from the 12th century. Genus name is from classical Latin. The specific epithet japonica means ‘of Japan’ and refers to the native range of this species. The common name kumquat comes from the Cantonese words ‘kam’ meaning gold and ‘quat’ meaning orange. Citrus japonica are slow-growing evergreen shrubs or short trees that stand 2.5–4.5 meters tall, with dense branches, sometimes bearing small thorns. Depending on size, the kumquat tree can produce hundreds or even thousands of edible golden-yellow fruits each year. The peel has a sweet flavour, but the fruit has a distinctly sour centre. The fruit is mainly used to make marmalades, jellies and other spreads. The plant symbolises good luck in China and other Asian countries, where it is often kept as a houseplant and given as gifts during Chinese New Year.

Cucumis melo, or muskmelon, is a species of melon within the Cucurbitaceae family. The genus Cucumis means ‘cucumber’ in Latin, while the specific epithet 'melo' is an abbreviation of melopepo, meaning an apple-shaped melon. It has been developed into many cultivated varieties such a honeydew and cantaloupe. The origin of Cucumis melo is not known, but they were traded along the caravan routes in ancient times. Some botanists believe they are native to the Levant and Egypt, others place the origin in India, Central Asia or Africa. Today wild Cucumis melo can be found in some African countries. It is a vine with a trailing growth tendency. Fruits vary widely in size, shape, texture and taste. Cucumis melo is mainly pollinated by bees, but can also self-pollinate. It is believed to have a number of medicinal properties.

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Specifications:

Paper
100% Cotton based, 320g, Acid-free, No optical brighteners. 

Printed Area
A3, 297mm x 420mm – Approximately 246mm x 311mm

About the Collection

The Garden of Miss Joaquim Collection: Illustrated Botanical Prints

Agnes Joaquim was a Singapore-born Armenian who created what would become Singapore’s National Flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim (scientific name: Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim), in 1893. The artificial hybrid was recognised by the first director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, botanist Henry Ridley.

Agnes, the first woman in the world to create a hybrid orchid, was a well-known and successful horticulturist, garnering 70 horticultural awards from 1881 to 1899. The Garden of Miss Joaquim Collection of botanical prints commemorates her horticultural legacy and complements her story told in the book Agnes and Her Amazing Orchid.

In presenting Agnes’s award-winning plants in the illustrated collection, we looked at the newspaper records of the times, but they were of no use because they used common name descriptions of the plants, such as ‘rose’ and ‘durian’. So we turned to the Singapore Botanic Gardens and collaborated with a botanist to identify the likely species. To complete Agnes’s story, the collection includes two additional images: of Vanda Miss Joaquim’s parents, Papilionanthe teres (pod parent) and Papilionanthe hookeriana (pollen parent) — formerly in the genus Vanda — both of which may have been present in her award-winning floral bouquets or cut flowers. Waiwai Hove, a talented and respected botanical illustrator, was chosen to produce the prints.

*Disclaimer: Representative only based on subject. Not species definitive.

About the Illustrator

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Waiwai Hove developed a love for nature from a young age. Growing up surrounded by rich tropical flora and nurtured by her mother, a keen gardener, Waiwai has always held a special place for plants in her childhood memories. She holds a diploma in botanical illustration from the Society of Botanical Artists (UK), graduating in 2013 with a distinction and the highest marks in the history of the course. 

She has since worked for the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where highlights include illustrations for ‘30 Heritage Trees’ and more recently ‘15 Gingers’. Four of Waiwai’s ginger paintings were subsequently used for a series of stamps issued by Singapore Post in 2018. Since 2019, Waiwai has begun working on the cover illustrations of 14 volumes of The Flora of Singapore, to be published over the next few years. Her works are in numerous private collections and can also be found in publications by the National Parks Board and in the Shirley Sherwood Collection in Kew Gardens, UK.