Orange
Citrus sinensis

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree up to 8-10 m high. It spreads to 4 m across. The stem is short, stout and spiny. It has a dense, rounded crown. The leaves are dark green, sword shaped and tapering towards the tip. They are 5-15 cm long. The leaves have a sweet smell when crushed. The leaf stalks have narrow wings and the stalk is jointed to the blade. The flowers are white and have a scent. The flowers have 5 petals and occur either singly or in clusters. The fruit often remain green colour and don't turn orange when ripened below 600 m altitude in the tropics. The fruit are about 9 cm across. They have 10-14 segments.

There are 20 Citrus species. Several hybrids have been formed.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. Not suited to very wet areas. Not suited to high altitudes. In Papua New Guinea it grows between sea levels and 1,800 m above sea level. Seeds won't grow below 13 °C. They need a well drained, fertile, sandy soil. They are drought and frost tender. Trees need temperatures above 3-5°C to grow. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Andes, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Bougainville, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Central Asia, China (country/location of origin), Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, French Guiana, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guam, Guianas, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Europe, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Rotuma, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, UAE, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten fresh, and the juice used in drinks. They are also added to salads and made into wine. The juice is canned, bottled, and used in ice cream and jellies. The peel is candied and used for flavouring. It is made into marmalade. The flower petals are eaten as a vegetable. The roots are used to flavour soup.

Trees are seen scattered in many lowland areas in Papua New Guinea. Few good quality fruit are produced in wet tropical countries. It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Fruit, herb, fruit skin, spice, flowers

How it is grown

Trees are often grown from seeds but these do not breed true. Seeds grow most easily between 27°C and 32°C. It is better to use budded plants. Plants can also be grafted. Green fruit can be treated with ethylene to give an orange colour, if people think an "orange" fruit is not supposed to have green colour!

Grafted trees produce in 2-3 years. Seedling trees take 3-5 years to fruit. Fruit take 6-8 months to mature after fruit set. A good tree can produce 100 fruit in a year. Fruit can be left on trees for several weeks after ripening for storage.

Its other names

Local names

Afontongnu, Akutongnu, Arancio, Battavinarinja, Blood orange, Buddasini, Cam, Chini, Choreng, Chula, Demumuda danira, Dodan, Emicungwa, Guang gan, Hkun-pa, Jeruk manis, Kahel, Kamala nembu, Kittle, Lala, Lawidwi, Leainmaw, Lemun zaki, Limau manis, Majungwa, Makhun, Mchungwa, Mitha nimbu, Moli'aina, Moli dawa, Moli taiti, Monamona, Mor Rotuma, Muchungwa, Musambi, Narangam, Narangi, Naranja dulce, Naranji, Navel orange, Orenji, Orombo didu, Orombo igun, Peni dodan, Portakal, Satghudi, Sathagudi, Sathgudi, Sha-lawi, Sinaasappel, Sini, Somkliang, Somtra, Sweet orange, Te aoranti, Te oranti, Thodam, Tian cheng, Tungchin-thi, Tun-mapa, Valencia orange

Synonyms

Citrus aurantium ssp. sinensis (L.) Engl.; Citrus aurantium var. sinensis L.; Citrus macracantha Hassk.; Probably now Citrus x aurantium Sweet Orange group;