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'Ambersweet' orangesAll citrus trees are of a single genus, Citrus,
and remain largely interbreedable; that is, there is only one
"superspecies" which includes lemons and limes as well
as oranges. Nevertheless names have been given to the various
members of the citrus family, oranges often being referred to
as Citrus sinensis and Citrus aurantium. All members of the genus
Citrus are considered berries because they have many seeds, are
fleshy, soft and derive from a single ovary. A number of cultivars
of orange are now cultivated widely. The sweet orange (Citrus
x aurantium) was first grown in Spain, and has become the most
popular variety. The sweet orange will grow to different sizes
and colors due to local conditions, most commonly with ten carpels
(slices) inside.
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Navel oranges
with various sized navels.A single mutation in an orchard of sweet
oranges planted at a monastery in 1820 in Brazil led to the navel
orange (aka Washington, Riverside or Bahia navel). A single cutting
of the original was then transplanted to Riverside, California
in 1870, creating a new market worldwide. The mutation caused
a 'twin' fruit, with a smaller orange embedded in the outer fruit
opposite the stem. From the outside the smaller, undeveloped,
twin leaves a human navel-like formation at the top of the fruit.
Navel oranges are almost always seedless, and tend to be larger
than the sweet orange. They are produced without pollination (parthenocarpy).
Above Images Are from The U.S.D.A.
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