Oranges are juicy sour-sweet delicious citrus fruits. They have a brightly colored outer rind covering the soft, juicy, pulpy fruit. They belong to a group of citrus fruits called the hesperidium. Oranges are actually modified berries, containing volatile oil glands in pits. The pulpy mass is made up of carpels, that have many fluid-filled vesicles, which are nothing but specialized hair cells.

The orange tree is a small tropical to semi-tropical, evergreen flowering plant. It can reach a height of about 5-8 meters. Oranges are seasonal fruits. A typical orange can be 3 inches in diameter, and weighs 100 -150 g. The flowers of an orange tree are white in color and have a wonderful fragrance. The blooming period of flowers is in spring. The fruits ripen in fall or winter.

It is believed that oranges were first produced in south east Asia, sometime around 4000 BC. It was taken to Africa by travelers and found its way in the Roman soil by 200 BC. Sour oranges were introduced to the Arabs by 10 century A.D. The Portuguese came up with a new variety of orange called the Portugal orange. It is thought that Christopher Columbus was the first person to bring the seeds of orange to America during his second voyage in 1493. By 1820, orange grooves were thriving in St. Augustine, Florida. In 1873, three orange trees were brought from Brazil and planted in Riverside, California. It is interesting to note that one of the trees is still alive and bearing fruits.

There are over 600 varieties of oranges. The popular varieties of oranges can be listed as under:

Valencia

Hamlin

Pineapple Oranges

Temple Oranges

Washington Navel

Red Cara Navel

Blood Oranges

Amber sweet

Moro Orange

Seville Orange

Jaffa

Persian Variety

Parson Brown

Here are some interesting facts about Oranges:

1. Oranges are fourth most popular fruit and orange juice is the most popular juice in America.

2. Brazil is the largest producer of oranges in the world.

3. The Florida oranges are greener than the California oranges. The warm night climate in Florida causes the chlorophyll pigments to migrate into the orange peel making it more greener.

4. It is possible for more than one plant to grow from a single seed of orange.

5. The ripe oranges that are unplucked from the trees, may turn to green due to a process called re-greening. This effect does not hamper the taste and the oranges nutritional value.

6. Oranges contain more fiber than most fruits and vegetables.

7. Oranges and orange blossoms are a symbol of love.

8. More orange trees are killed by lighting than plant diseases.

9. Oranges were known as the fruits of the Gods. They were often referred as the ‘golden apples’ that Hercules stole.

10. There are over 35,000,000 orange trees in Spain.

There are many more orange facts and orange nutritional facts. To stay healthy, one should not have more than 3 oranges per day. Just as the color orange is a synonym to vitality, strength and endurance, the fruit also contains these three properties.

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