Citrus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Citrus |
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| Slices of various citrus fruits | |
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Aurantioideae
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Citrus
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Eremocitrus |
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Citrus is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants produce citrus fruits, including important crops like oranges, lemons, grapefruit, pomelo, pomegranates, peaches, kiwi and limes.
The most recent research indicates an origin in Australia, New Caledonia and New Guinea. Some researchers believe that the origin is in part of Southeast Asia, and it is in this region that some commercial species such as oranges, mandarins, and lemons originated. Citrus fruit has been cultivated in an ever-widening area since ancient times.
History
At various times, citrus plants were thought to be native to Asia (where they were first domesticated), Europe, and Florida. But the European oranges (such as the bitter orange) were originally brought from India at around the time of Alexander the Great, and the "native" oranges of Florida actually originated with the Spanish Conquistadors. The lemon reached Europe during the time of classical Rome.
Evolution
The large citrus fruit of today evolved originally from small, edible berries over millions of years. Citrus plants diverged from a common ancestor about 15 million years ago. Within the last few thousand years, all common citrus fruits (sweet oranges, lemons, grapefruit, limes, and so on) were created by crossing the original species.
Citrus fruits are notable for their fragrance, partly due to flavonoids and limonoids (which in turn are terpenes) contained in the rind, and most are juice-laden. The juice contains a high quantity of citric acid giving them their characteristic sharp flavour. The genus is commercially important as many species are cultivated for their fruit, which is eaten fresh, pressed for juice, or preserved in marmalades and pickles.
They are also good sources of vitamin C and flavonoids. The content of vitamin C in the fruit depends on the species, variety and mode of cultivation. Fruits produced in organic agriculture are richer in vitamin C than those produced in conventional agriculture.
Uses
Culinary
Many citrus fruits, such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, and clementines, are generally eaten fresh. They are typically peeled and can be easily split into segments. Grapefruit is more commonly halved and eaten out of the skin with a spoon. Orange and grapefruit juices are also very popular breakfast beverages.
More acidic citrus, such as lemons and limes, are generally not eaten on their own. Meyer lemons can be eaten, they are both sweet and sour. Lemonade or limeade are popular beverages prepared by diluting the juices of these fruits and adding sugar. Lemons and limes are also used as garnishes or in cooked dishes. Their juice is used as an ingredient in a variety of dishes; it can commonly be found in salad dressings and squeezed over cooked meat or vegetables.
The rind and oil of the fruit is generally very bitter, especially when cooked, and so is often combined with sugar. The fruit pulp can vary from sweet and tart to extremely sour. Marmalade, a condiment derived from cooked orange and lemon, can be especially bitter, but is usually sweetened to cut the bitterness and produce a jam-like result. Lemon or lime is commonly used as a garnish for water, soft drinks, or cocktails. Citrus juices, rinds, or slices are used in a variety of mixed drinks. The colorful outer skin of some citrus fruits, known as zest, is used as a flavoring in cooking; the white inner portion of the peel, the pith, is usually avoided due to its bitterness.
Medical
Oranges were historically used for their high content of vitamin C, which prevents scurvy. Scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency, and can be prevented by having 10 milligrams of vitamin C a day. An early sign of scurvy is fatigue. If ignored, later symptoms are bleeding and bruising easily. British sailors were given a ration of citrus fruits on long voyages to prevent the onset of scurvy, hence the British nickname of Limey.
Pectin is a structural heteropolysaccharide contained in the primary cell walls of plants. Limes and lemons as well as oranges and grapefruits are among the highest in this level. Lemons have the highest concentration of citrate of any citrus fruit.
List of citrus fruits
- Clementine
- Grapefruit
- Kumquat
- Lemon
- Rough Lemon
- Lime
- Kaffir lime
- Key lime
- Leech Limes
- Mandarin orange
- Minneola
- Orange (fruit)
- Pomelo
- Satsuma
- Shonan gold
- Sweety
- Tangerine
- Tangelo
- Ugli
- Imperial Lemon
- Citron
- Red finger lime
- Amanatsu
- Orangelo
- Oroblancho
- Tangor
- Etrog
- Blood orange
Images for kids
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Map of inferred original wild ranges of the main Citrus cultivars, and selected relevant wild taxa
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Slices of various citrus fruits
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Lemons are a citrus fruit native to Asia, but now common worldwide.
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Limes in a grocery store
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Mediterranean Mandarin (Citrus ×deliciosa plantation, Son Carrió (Mallorca)
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Leaf of Citrus tree
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Orangery of the Botanical Garden in Leuven (Belgium)
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Citrus canker is caused by the gammaproteobacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis
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Citrons (Citrus medica) for sale in Germany
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Red finger Lime (Citrus australasica), a rare delicacy from Australia
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Sweetie or oroblanco is a pomelo-grapefruit hybrid.
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Clementines (Citrus ×clementina) have thinner skins than oranges.
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Mikan (Citrus ×unshiu), also known as satsumas
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Sweet oranges (Citrus ×sinensis) are used in many foods. Their ancestors were pomelos and mandarin oranges.
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Cross-section of Odichukuthi lime
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Odichukuthi fruit
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A pompia fruit
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Calamansi, a ubiquitous part of traditional dipping sauces and condiments in Philippine cuisine
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Ripe bitter oranges (Citrus × aurantium) from Asprovalta
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See also
In Spanish: Cítricos para niños
