Have you ever wondered about the orange and where this wonderful citrus fruit originated? I know what your first answer would be, Florida. Wrong and that is the purpose of my little dissertation about the orange. Probably, more information than you need; however, great for the old time game of Trivial Pursuit or enjoying that screwdriver on a warm sunny beach.

The orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus (Citrus Sinensis (L.) Osbeck) and its fruit.[1] It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world.[2]. It is a hybrid of ancient cultivated origin, possibly between pomelo (Citrus maxima) and mandarin (Citrus reticulata).[3] It is an evergreen flowering tree generally growing to 9–10 m in height (although very old specimens have reached 15 m).[4] The orange fruit is a hesperidium, a type of berry. The fruit consists of 40 to 50% juice, 20 to 40% rind, and 20 to 35% pulp and seeds. In the chemical range, they contain 86 to 92% water, 5 to 8% sugars, and 1 to 2% pectin with lesser amounts of acids, protein, essential oils,: and minerals. The fruits grow on small evergreen trees.

Biogeographers have had a hard. time trying to determine the centers of origin and ancestors of citrus fruit. A multitude of natural hybrids and cultivated varieties, plus spontaneous mutants, obscure the history of citrus. Lack of sufficient descriptions and specimens, in addition to: the destruction of original habitats contribute to the puzzle, too. Citrus trees originated in a region encompassing Southeast Asia and India. The modern fruit species probably evolved in China, where there is greater diversity in Citrus varieties than anywhere else in the world. However,- the location of the origin of the sweet orange is controversial. Domestication of citrus species presumably began at several sites.

Birds, streams, and humans spread Citrus seeds from their region of origin and location of culture. The word "orange" originates from Sanskrit. If you follow its modern-day form from France, back to Italy, Portugal, Spain, Neo-Latin, Byzantium, Persia, and India, we can learn about the immigration of the orange from Asia to Europe. Before Christian times,' oranges had 'arrived from India into Europe and by the fall of the Roman Empire, they thrived on the Italian Peninsula. In the sixth and seventh centuries; Muslin armies overran much territory stretching from Indie to Spain. Arab traders introduced further varieties of citrus to Europe in the Middle Ages. Through: the Crusades, Northern Europe became acquainted with the orange. The Portuguese introduced a sweet variety from India which quickly replaced the bitter form there at the time. In 1635, the Chinese form landed in Lisbon and pushed out the Portugal orange as the European favorite. The better-flavored introduction encouraged the expansion of - orange consumption and cultivation in Europe.

Injury from frost was a major obstacle in planting Citrus in Europe and much effort was directed towards solving the problem. In the fourteenth century, structures that were the ancestors of greenhouses were developed to breed oranges. During the Age of Exploration, the numerous health benefits of citrus became apparent and sailors planted citrus trees along trade routes to prevent scurvy. Columbus brought the seeds of oranges, lemons, and citrons to the New World in 1493. Ponce de Leon took citrus seeds to Florida in 1513. Around 1530, Brazil began producing oranges where they had adapted to the coast and interior.

Now oranges are primarily eaten fresh or prepared as frozen juice concentrate. The pulp, rind, and seeds are . are used in cattle feeds and molasses, as well as flavorings, perfumes pharmaceuticals, and soap. When fermented, orange juices produce vinegar and liqueurs. Originally, the uses for citrus included beautification, embalming, moth balls, aphrodisiacs, protection from poisons, and curing fever and colic. Before Europeans used oranges as food, the people used the trees, flowers, and fruits as ornamentals, seasonings, and for aromas.

The naval orange is the most important variety in the world for fresh fruit production. The small "secondary" fruit embedded in- the apex of the main fruit distinguishes them from other varieties. It originated in Brazil as a bud mutation.

Missionaries discovered this nearly seedless orange in 1865 and the following year the USDA receive trees. Descendants of these ended up in California in 1873. Later, the tree became known as the. Washington navel and since then has spread all over the world. Common oranges include varieties such as': Valencia, Shamouti Hamlin, Pineapple and Pera. A couple of these can be used for fresh eating purposes in addition to, like the others, for processing.

There is still a lot to discover concerning sweet oranges, the `varieties, hybrids, and relatives. There might be valuable traits waiting to be discovered that could play an important role in developing better qualities and solve problems in citriculture. One thing is for sure, with their refreshing taste, sweet juice, and healthy supply of vitamins and minerals, the demand for sweet oranges will persist far into the future.

FOOTNOTES

[1]. www.ars-grin.gov. Retrieved 2008-03-17.

[2]. Plants.USDA.gov.

[3] Nicolosi, E.; Deng, Z. N.; Gentile, A.; La Malfa, S.; Continella, G.; Tribulato, E. (2000). "Citrus phylogeny and genetic origin of important species as investigated by molecular markers". TAG Theoretical and Applied Genetics 100 (8): 1155–1166. doi:10.1007/s001220051419

[4] Webber, Herbert John; rev Walter Reuther and Harry W. Lawton; Willard Hodgson (1967–1989) [1903]. The Citrus Industry, Horticultural Varieties of Citrus. Riverside CA: University of California Division of Agricultural Sciences.