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Navelina Navel Oranges

Navelina Navel Orange Trees

Navelina or Dalmau (VI 532) was originally called Smith's Early at the Citrus Research Center when it was selected as a budsport selection from the Rubidoux Tract variety block about 1910. ‘Smith’s Early’ was exported to Spain in 1933 from the Citrus Research Center in Riverside CA. This variety underwent extensive selection in Spain, and was reintroduced to California from Spain in 1990 under the name Navelina.

Navelina trees are not very vigorous, semi-dwarf in size. The fruit is medium to medium large in size and slightly pear shaped with a small navel. The fruit have very smooth rind and have reddish orange rind color at maturity. The fruit mature very early and are juicy with a sweet flavor that is less sprightly than Washington navel.

Fruit medium to medium-large, spherical to obovoid; basal end commonly strongly furrowed; navel small and not prominent, but opening not closed; seedless. Color reddish-orange at maturity. Rind medium-thin and smooth (approaching Thomson). Flesh color deep; texture medium; rather juicy; flavor sweet (less sprightly than Washington). Very early in maturity (fully as early as Thomson and perhaps a little earlier).

Tree lacking in vigor, semi-dwarfed, and small (like Robertson); characteristic small dark green leaves give a distinctive appearance. Productive.