Pierre Clément
Encyclopedia
Marie-Clément Rodier, C.S.Sp.
(born Vital Rodier; 1839–1904) was a French missionary brother
in Algeria
. He is credited with creating the clementine
variety of mandarin orange
in 1902.
Rodier was born in 1829 in Malveille, near to Chambon-sur-Dolore
, France
. Originally a member of the Brothers of the Annunciation at Misserghin
in Algeria, he helped to run an orphanage. Brother Marie-Clément worked with the orphanage's citrus trees
, and made grafts
from an uncultivated tree that had grown among some thorn bushes in the orchard. This graft resulted in the clementine, which was named in honor of its creator.
Brother Marie-Clément's new variety was "a species of mandarin, which won the admiration of connoisseurs and which the orphans baptized the Clementine. It was neither a mandarin tree nor an orange tree. Its fruit was redder than a mandarin and had a delicious taste and, moreover, it had no pith".
Brother Marie-Clément became a brother in the Congregation of the Holy Spirit after the Brothers of the Annunciation were authorized to join that order in 1903. He died in 1904.
In 2010, a building on the campus of Duquesne University
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
was named Clement Hall in honor of Brother Marie-Clément.
Holy Ghost Fathers
The Congregation of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic congregation of priests, lay brothers, and since Vatican II, lay associates...
(born Vital Rodier; 1839–1904) was a French missionary brother
Brother (Catholic)
A religious brother is a member of a Roman Catholic religious order who commits himself to following Christ in consecrated life of the church by the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. A layman , he usually lives in a religious community and works in a ministry that suits his talents and gifts...
in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. He is credited with creating the clementine
Clementine
A clementine is a variety of mandarin orange , so named in 1902. The exterior is a deep orange colour with a smooth, glossy appearance. Clementines can be separated into seven to fourteen segments. They tend to be very easy to peel, like a tangerine, but are almost always seedless...
variety of mandarin orange
Mandarin orange
The orange, also known as the ' or mandarine , is a small citrus tree with fruit resembling other oranges. Mandarin oranges are usually eaten plain or in fruit salads...
in 1902.
Rodier was born in 1829 in Malveille, near to Chambon-sur-Dolore
Chambon-sur-Dolore
Chambon-sur-Dolore is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-References:*...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Originally a member of the Brothers of the Annunciation at Misserghin
Misserghin
Misserghin is a city in Boutlélis District, Oran Province, Algeria. Its territory is mainly covered by a salt lake called the Sebkha of Oran.It is the city where the known fruit Clementine were discovered by Father Clément Rodier in 1892.Dr...
in Algeria, he helped to run an orphanage. Brother Marie-Clément worked with the orphanage's citrus trees
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
, and made grafts
Grafting
Grafting is a horticultural technique whereby tissues from one plant are inserted into those of another so that the two sets of vascular tissues may join together. This vascular joining is called inosculation...
from an uncultivated tree that had grown among some thorn bushes in the orchard. This graft resulted in the clementine, which was named in honor of its creator.
Brother Marie-Clément's new variety was "a species of mandarin, which won the admiration of connoisseurs and which the orphans baptized the Clementine. It was neither a mandarin tree nor an orange tree. Its fruit was redder than a mandarin and had a delicious taste and, moreover, it had no pith".
Brother Marie-Clément became a brother in the Congregation of the Holy Spirit after the Brothers of the Annunciation were authorized to join that order in 1903. He died in 1904.
In 2010, a building on the campus of Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
was named Clement Hall in honor of Brother Marie-Clément.