170 OUR COMMON TBUITS. 



the Citron, Lemon, and Lime this petiole is a bare stalk, in 

 the orange and Shaddock it is winged ; that is, it has on 

 each side an expansion of leafy substance, sometimes so 

 broad as to make it look like a second leaf growing below 

 the principal one it supports. The yellow dots upon the 

 foliage indicate the vesicles of essential oil, and if these 

 are bruised by rubbing a leaf between the fingers, the 

 odour becomes much more apparent. The blossom, which 

 is white, sometimes tinged with pink or violet, appears in 

 clusters, and is composed of from three to five petals 

 encircling from 20 to 60 yellow stamens (two or three 

 times as many as are found in the Citron or Lemon), 

 grouped together in several distinct little bundles an 

 indication that the flower belongs to the Linnaean Poly- 

 adelpliia polyandria. Every part of the surface of the 

 orange-tree, except just these stamens, is covered with 

 vesicles containing an essential oil, and it is a singular 

 circumstance that no sooner do these manifest the least 

 disposition to transform themselves into petals, so as to 

 form double blossoms, than vesicles of oil begin imme- 

 diately to develop on their surface also. The central 

 ovary is divided into from five to 15 parts, each containing 

 from six to 20 ovules ; but, fortunately for orange eaters, 

 at the utmost not more than three or four in each divi- 

 sion perfect into pips, and some varieties, both of sweet 

 and bitter oranges, are entirely seedless. The perfect 

 fruit is a large berry, with a leathery rind enclosing a 

 pulp consisting of a number of vesicles containing a fluid 

 which owes its flavour to a combination of the malic 

 acid of the apple with the citric acid of the lemon ; and 

 the divisions of the ovary are still apparent in the form 

 of the thin membrane dividing the "quarters" of the 

 fruit. The tough and oil-impregnated skin in which it 

 is enveloped fits it to endure uninjured both extremes of 

 temperature; and the aroma of the rind and acidity of 

 the pulp combining to protect it from insect depredations, 

 it may be procured fresh in every region of the world to- 

 which means of transport are available, since, if plucked 

 before it is fully ripe, it will keep good for a considerable 

 time, being indeed a treasure ready packed for travelling 



