Orange (sweet) citrus sinesis

« Lemon - citrus limon | Home | Lychee – litchi chinesis »

Orange (sweet) citrus sinesis

By goodadmin | November 23, 2007

The orange tree, Citrus sinensis (sweet orange) or Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) is a member of the Rutaceae family the genus Citrus. Its most likely origin is Southeast Asia in either India or southern China. It is a hybrid possibly between the pomelo (Citrus maxima) and the tangerine (Citrus reticulata). It is a small evergreen tree growing to about 10 m tall with alternately arranged ovate shaped leaves 4–10 cm long, shiny and leathery with many oil glands.

The orange flowers are white, some times purple, have a sweet smell and five petals. The fruits are a type of berry (hesperidium),
usually spherical in shape divided in 8-14 sections with many seeds soft, fleshy and juicy and with a flavor that varies from sweet to sour. The fruits are commonly peeled and eaten fresh, squeezed for their juice or made in to marmalade. Citrus fruits are prized for their health values.

Orange trees are cultivated in orchards and in gardens in areas with suitable climate and soil. Citrus fruits can be produced on many kinds of soil from light sandy kinds to clayey. However, the ideal is a loamy soil that holds moisture and has adequate drainage and contains plenty of vegetable matter. Oranges are susceptible to frost damage and growers commonly use sprinklers when temperatures go below freezing. This practice regulates the temperature and protects the crop.
Most common varieties are: Valencia, Navel, Blood, Persian and Trovita.

orange

Trees2grow

visit my other sites

Herb-Gardens

all about fruit and nut bearing trees