Seville orange
Citrus aurantium

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree up to 10-15 m high and with slender thorns. It spreads to 5 m across. The stem is stout and erect. It is covered with smooth greyish-brown bark. The leaf stalks have broad wings. The leaves are glossy green, oval and 10 cm long. The leaves taper towards the base and are paler under the leaf. There are spines in the axils of the leaves. The flowers are white and have a sweet smell. They are 2 cm across and there can be 1, 2 or a cluster, in the axils of leaves. The fruit is often green with a reddish tinge and fairly juicy but sour. The fruit are 5-7 cm long. The fruit is often rough skinned. The flesh is divided into segments with sour pulp.

This plant is mostly used as rootstock for other citrus. There are 20 Citrus species. Several hybrids have been formed.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. Mostly in coastal areas in the tropics. It is drought and frost resistant. It does best in a protected sunny position. It must have a temperature above 3-5°C to grow. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belize, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, East Africa, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marquesas, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Taiwan, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad, Turkey, Türkiye, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam (country/location of origin), West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit is bitter, therefore mostly used for marmalade or flavouring. The fruit are used for peel and for sherry and wine. The tree is used as a rootstock for budding or grafting other citrus on to. The oil from the flowers is used for flavouring. The flowers are used for flavouring tea. Immature fruit are pickled in salt or vinegar or fried in coconut oil.

Trees are scattered in a number of coastal areas in Papua New Guinea but fruit are not used and just left lying under the tree. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, herb, spice, flowers - oil

How it is grown

It is mostly grown from seeds. It can also be grown by cuttings and layering. The seeds often produce several shoots. Plants can be grown by grafting.

Its other names

Local names

Apepu, Arancio amaro, Bigarade, Bitter orange, Daidai, Embul-dodan, Gwanggyul, Heralay, Jeruk manis, Kabala, Kadarai, Karna, Khatta, Laoranjy, Laranja-azeda, Laranja-cavalo, Laranja-pocan, Ljuta naranca, Mallikanarangi, Moli jamu, Moli kula, Mshuza, Naaringu, Nandam, Narang, Narangam, Naranja amargo, Naranjo agrio, Narattai, Satkora, Sour orange, Suan cheng, Taitai, Turunc, Voangdy, Zure oranjes

Synonyms

Citrus amara Link; Citrus acre Mill.; Citrus bigarradia Loisel.; Citrus myrtifolia; Citrus vulgaris Risso; Citrus x iyo Yu. Tanaka;