9 Orange

Orange Bitter orange Citrus aurantium var amara Sweet orange Citrus aurantium var sinensis Rutaceae

Cultivation • Seedlings planted 8mt apart when 612 months old • Yield from when 5 – 7 yrs old • Usually grafting method used • Fruits collected when still unripe , packed in boxes • Ripening completed during transport

Description • Subspherical in shape • Scar at apex & dry disc shaped

remains of nectery at base • Sour taste • Peel consists of outer most part of pericarp & is cut when required (fresh ) • Dried peel may be machine cut & called as fine cut and gelatin cut

Microscopy • Epidermis polygonal tubular cells Circular stomata • Parenchyma consists of calcium oxalate crystals • Crystalline masses of hesperidine • Small V.B • Large oil filled cavities

Constituents • Volatile oil • Hesperidin • Vitamin A , B & C • Bitter principle

aurantiamarin • Isohesperidin , hesperic acid , neohesperidin • Aurantiamaric acid , bitter

Uses • Flavoring

agent • Bitter tonic