''Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' (sometimes written ''Citrus sinensis''), a hybrid between
pomelo
The pomelo ( ), ''Citrus maxima'', is the largest citrus fruit from the family Rutaceae and the principal ancestor of the grapefruit. It is a natural, non-hybrid, citrus fruit, native to Southeast Asia. Similar in taste to a sweet grapefr ...
(''Citrus maxima'') and
mandarin
Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to:
Language
* Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country
** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China
** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...
(''Citrus reticulata''), also known as the sweet oranges, is a commonly cultivated family of
orange
Orange most often refers to:
*Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis''
** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower
*Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum
* ...
s that includes
blood orange
The blood orange is a variety of orange ( ''Citrus'' × ''sinensis'') (also referred to as raspberry orange) with crimson, almost blood-colored flesh.
The distinctive dark flesh color is due to the presence of anthocyanins, a family of polyp ...
s and
navel orange
An orange is a fruit of various citrus species in the family Rutaceae (see list of plants known as orange); it primarily refers to ''Citrus'' × ''sinensis'', which is also called sweet orange, to distinguish it from the related ''Citrus × ...
s.
[
]
Uses
The orange
Orange most often refers to:
*Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis''
** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower
*Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum
* ...
fruit is an important agricultural product, used for both the juicy fruit pulp and the aromatic peel (rind). Orange blossom
Orange Blossom is a French band that plays a mix of electronic and world music.
The band was formed in Nantes in 1993 with Pierre-Jean Chabot (known as ''PJ Chabot'') on violin and Jean-Christophe Waechter (known as ''Jay C.'') on percussion ...
s (the flowers) are used in several different ways, as are the leaves and wood of the tree.
Flowers
* The orange blossom
Orange Blossom is a French band that plays a mix of electronic and world music.
The band was formed in Nantes in 1993 with Pierre-Jean Chabot (known as ''PJ Chabot'') on violin and Jean-Christophe Waechter (known as ''Jay C.'') on percussion ...
, which is the state flower of Florida, is highly fragrant and traditionally associated with good fortune. It has long been popular in bridal bouquets and head wreaths.
* Orange blossom essence is an important component in the making of perfume.
* Orange blossom petals can also be made into a delicately citrus-scented counterpart to rosewater, known as "orange blossom water" or "orange flower water". It is a common ingredient in French and Middle Eastern cuisines, especially in desserts and baked goods. In some Middle Eastern countries, drops of orange flower water are added to disguise the unpleasant taste of hard water
Hard water is water that has high mineral content (in contrast with "soft water"). Hard water is formed when water percolates through deposits of limestone, chalk or gypsum, which are largely made up of calcium and magnesium carbonates, bicarbo ...
drawn from wells or stored in (traditional Egyptian water pitchers made of porous clay). In the United States, orange flower water is used to make orange blossom scones
A scone is a baked good, usually made of either wheat or oatmeal with baking powder as a leavening agent, and baked on sheet pans. A scone is often slightly sweetened and occasionally Glaze (cooking technique), glazed with egg wash. The scone ...
and marshmallows.
* In Spain, fallen blossoms are dried and used to make orange tea.
* Orange blossom honey (or citrus honey) is obtained by putting beehives
A beehive is an enclosed structure in which some honey bee species of the subgenus '' Apis'' live and raise their young. Though the word ''beehive'' is commonly used to describe the nest of any bee colony, scientific and professional literature ...
in the citrus groves while trees bloom. By this method, bees also pollinate
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther of a plant to the stigma of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by wind. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, birds, a ...
seeded citrus varieties. This type of honey has an orangey taste and is highly prized.
Leaves
* Orange leaves can be boiled to make orange tea.
Wood
* Orangewood sticks are used as cuticle pushers in manicures and pedicures, and as spudger
A selection of spudgers
A spudger (also known as a spludger, non-marring nylon black stick tool or simply black stick) is a tool that has a wide flat-head screwdriver-like end that extends as a wedge, used to separate pressure-fit plastic compon ...
s for manipulating slender electronic wires.
* Orangewood is used in the same way as mesquite, oak, and hickory for seasoning grilled meat.
File:Orangerie du château de Versailles le 11 septembre 2015 - 84.jpg, Orange trees in movable pots, so that they can be placed indoors for the winter
File:Orange flowers - Portakal çiçekleri 03.jpg, Orange flowers
File:Unripened orange.JPG, Unripened fruit
File:Oranges and blood oranges (01).jpg, Blood orange
File:Arancia di Ribera byFigiu.JPG, Oranges on the branch
File:Apfelsinenbaum--Orange tree.jpg, Orange tree
Chemical composition
Orange fruit and leaf both are reported to contain indole alkaloids including N,N-DMT
''N'',''N''-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT or ''N'',''N''-DMT, SPL026) is a substituted tryptamine that occurs in many plants and animals, including human beings, and which is both a derivative and a structural analog of tryptamine. It is used as a ...
.
Threats
Giant swallowtail larva
Giant swallowtail
The giant swallowtail (''Papilio cresphontes'') is the largest butterfly in North America. It is abundant through many parts of eastern North America; populations from western North America and down into Panama are now (as of 2014) considered t ...
caterpillars (''Papilio cresphontes)'' cause serious damage to this crop, especially to young trees.
See also
* The orange blossom gives its touristic nickname to the ''Costa del Azahar
Costa del Azahar (, literally in English "Orange Blossom Coast") or Costa dels Tarongers (, literally in English: Orange Tree Coast) is the name for the coast of the province of Castellón in Spain, from Vinaròs to Almenara.
Towns on the Costa ...
'' ("Orange blossom coast"), the Castellón seaboard.
* Citrus greening disease - bacterial disease killing orange trees and other citrus fruits grown
References
External links
*
*
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Citrus sinensis
Citrus hybrids
Fruit trees