Japanese name: オレンジ Scientific name:Citrus sinensis
[Overview]
An evergreen tree cultivated as a fruit tree.
It was introduced to Europe by the Portuguese in the mid-15th century and was cultivated in the countries along the Mediterranean coast.
The alternate leaves look simple, but they are reduced compound leaves, and they have almost no serrations.
The flowers are white with 5 petals.
Many stamens are fused up to the middle of the filaments, forming a staminal tube.
The fruit is spherical, ripens to orange, and is slightly uneven.
[Uses]
The flesh is juicy and highly fragrant, and is used as food and as a flavoring.
[Cultivation]
It is a food plant of the swallowtail butterfly.
