Indian wild orange facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indian wild orange |
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Citrus indica, also known as the Indian wild orange, is a special type of Citrus plant. It is a natural mix, or hybrid, of different citrus fruits. This plant grows naturally in parts of South Asia.
What is the Indian Wild Orange?
The Indian wild orange is a unique citrus plant. Scientists once thought it was the very first type of citrus fruit. They believed it was the ancestor of all the oranges, lemons, and grapefruits we eat today.
However, modern science has shown something different. Using special tests called genomic analysis, scientists looked closely at its DNA. They found that the Indian wild orange is actually a mix. It has genes from a fruit called citron (from its mother's side). It also has genes from mandarin orange and another citrus group called papeda.
This plant can also be used to help other citrus trees grow. It can be a citrus rootstock. This means the roots of the Indian wild orange are used as a base. Then, a part of another citrus tree is attached to it. This helps the new tree grow strong.
Today, this wild orange is mostly found in a place called Meghalaya in India. It grows especially in the Garo Hills region.
Uses of the Indian Wild Orange
The Indian wild orange is important to the Garo people who live in Meghalaya. They use it for both health and spiritual reasons.
The fruit is used as a traditional medicine. People use it to help treat conditions like jaundice, which makes skin and eyes look yellow. It is also used for upset stomach problems in both people and animals. In the past, it was even used to help with smallpox, a serious disease.
Besides its health uses, the Garo people also use the Indian wild orange in their spiritual practices.
Protecting the Indian Wild Orange
The Indian wild orange is an endangered species. This means there are very few of these plants left in the wild. They are at risk of disappearing forever.
One big problem for the plant is habitat destruction. This happens when the places where plants and animals live are damaged or destroyed. In this case, it's often caused by a farming method called slash-and-burn (also known as jhum). This involves cutting down and burning forests to clear land for crops.
This plant needs a very specific type of environment to grow. This is called a microclimate. Because of this, there are only a few places where it can survive.
A very important place for the Indian wild orange is the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve. A biosphere reserve is a special area protected for nature. Because this plant lives there, it inspired the creation of the National Citrus Gene Sanctuary inside the reserve. This sanctuary helps protect the genetic material of citrus plants.
