The Plant: Orange
The orange is the fruit produced by the orange tree (Citrus x sinensis), a member of the Rutaceae family. Sweet oranges originated in Asia and were introduced to Europe in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers.
Oranges contain significant quantities of mineral salts—principally calcium, potassium, sodium, and phosphorus—and are rich in B-complex vitamins. Orange is considered one of the most important dietary sources of Vitamin C. In addition, its high content of bioflavonoids and beta-carotene provides powerful natural antioxidant activity.