The orange tree is an evergreen plant with a small height (2-10 meters). It belongs to the genus of citrus fruits and has fairly long and thin branches. From the rest of the representatives of this species, orange is distinguished by the presence of rather long sharp spikes. The natural range of oranges is the Himalayan mountains. Although it is cultivated by residents of the Mediterranean countries, the Caucasus and Latin America.
The core value of orange
What kind of orange tree is it? What it is? This plant is known to everyone due to its main value - fruits. They have a berry-like shape, an orange color and a slightly flattened shape.
In their appearance, there are many similarities with tangerines or medium-sized oranges. To separate the skins from the fetus, one does not have to make much effort. Under it there are 12 lobules with yellow furrowed seeds. They are quite bitter and inedible, reaching 6-7 cm across.
No less famous are the white flowers of orange. They are called "orange blossom". They found their application in pharmaceuticals and perfumes.
Fruits and their application
In the world, an orange tree is also called a sour or bitter orange, Seville orange, bigaradia. Its peel consists of glycosides, organic acids, carbohydrates, essential oils. The nerolium type of essential oil of the fetus, consisting of camphene, myrcene, methyl ester of anthranilic acid, limonene, geraniol, linalool, has a rather high price. Thanks to these components, it has wonderful aromatic and beneficial properties.
This fruit is not accepted to eat fresh. But its unusual taste and aromatic properties are widely used in cooking. In particular, they are used for making candied fruit, marmalade, additives in a wide variety of sauces and drinks. In all these processes, only the skin of the fruits of the orange tree is involved, containing most of the healthy and aromatic essential oil. Their flesh is not used.
Even Avicenna used the fruits of this citrus tree. He devoted some of his works to the description of their benefits.
Orange properties
It is no coincidence that the orange tree is so common and popular throughout the world. It has a large number of useful properties. These include:
- anti-inflammatory effect;
- use in the process of combating rheumatism;
- sedative properties used to treat depression, apathy, depression;
- anti-aging effect of fruits;
- Contributing to improved digestion, increased appetite;
- choleretic effect;
- positive effect on the work of the heart.
Due to its antiseptic, antispasmodic and laxative properties, the orange peel helps to accelerate the treatment of colds and respiratory diseases. This fetus is able to relieve testicular inflammation in men. Orange grains are a kind of antidote for the poisonous bites of various types of insects and snakes.
Orange flowers
The orange tree, whose flowers have a charming white color, was quite popular in the Middle Ages. Many nationalities used them to decorate the hair of the bride or decorate the wedding attire. They were a symbol of tenderness, purity, youth. Only in the middle of the twentieth century, the fashion for orange flowers began to fade. Instead, callas and roses began to be used.
In the days of plant fashion, greenhouse oranges were popular. It was specially planted in a large box so that it could be brought into the room in the cold season. The most famous bitter orange is the one planted by the wife of Charles III, Eleanor de Castille.
The delicate aroma, in which the light notes of jasmine and honey are felt, are also used in perfumes. Even in our time it is used to create perfumes. But comparatively recently, during the Renaissance, only noble ladies could use such perfumes. This is due to the high cost of these fragrant flowers.
From time immemorial, orange light oil has been used by cooks in their work. Pharmacists did not pass him by.
With his help, he was cured of the plague. In the modern world of medicine, it is used to treat other ailments.
Neroli
The essential oil, which is extracted from the flowers of orange, is called neroli. Its main useful properties include:
- beneficial effect on the nervous system (treatment of depression, stress, insomnia);
- antimicrobial and antiviral properties;
- helps to get rid of a variety of dermatological diseases, scars and scars;
- strengthens the immune system;
- is a rehabilitation tool used after various operations.
Oranienbaum
In German, the orange tree is oranienbaum. Also called a small town, which is located near the Gulf of Finland. It is still not known exactly what story the name of the tree has. Each city of Russia in 1785 received its own coat of arms. The orange tree became the emblem of Oranienbaum.
One version of the origin of the name of the city suggests that a greenhouse of orange trees was found at its location. Above each was a German version of the name "oranienbaum". This find is very interested in people. Therefore, the orange tree, a photo of which can be seen on all brochures and photographs of Oranienbaum, began to symbolize this city.
