Tropical Plant "Sweet orange"
Citrus sinensis

Characteristics - The sweet orange is an exotic fruit bearer, possibly originating in southern China and northeastern India; it was introduced into Brazil at the beginning of its colonization, and is widely cultivated, in domestic and commercial orchards, all over the country. It is an evergreen tree, spinescent, 5-10 m tall. Leaves subcoriaceous, glabrous and lustrous, aromatic, 7-15 cm long, the petiole is variably alate. Flowers very fragrant, solitary or in groups of 2-6; they form in August-September. Fruits globose or sub-globose, the skin is aromatic and difficult to remove, the pulp is divided into 10-14 segments, sub-acidic to sweet, with or without seeds; they mature from summer to winter. The photos that follow, show the main cultivars planted in Brazil, the orange 'Pera' cultivar, on this page, is the most widely planted.

Uses - The fruits are consumed, mainly, in natura, fresh and as juice.

Propagation - by seeds or by grafting.