54 
CITRUS AURANTIUM. 
are the bitter, known by the name of Seville orange, and the China or 
sweet orange. Some botanists consider these as distinct species.* 
This species of Citrus f rises several feet in height, sending otF 
many branches, the trunk and older branches are covered with a bark 
of a greyish colour ; the leaves are nearly elliptical, pointed, smooth, 
entire, of a shining green, and stand upon strong winged footstalks, 
(which is the distinguishing character of this species of Citrus) ; the 
flowers appear early in summer and continue blowing for several 
months ; the blossoms arise from the smaller branches upon simple 
and branched peduncles ; the calyx is divided into five small pointed 
segments ; the corolla is composed of five white, oblong, concave, 
petals, beset with small glands : stamina about twenty, the filaments 
are united at their base into three or more distinct portions, the 
antherse are yellow and placed vertically upon the top of the fila- 
ments ; the germen is roundish and superior, the style is cylindrical 
and terminated by a globular stigma j the fruit a globular berry, 
divided into nine cells filled with a mucilaginous pulp, and each con- 
taining from two to four seeds. 
Sensible Qualities and Properties. The juice of oranges 
is an agreeable acid, composed of a considerable portion of citric 
acid, combined with sugar, mucilage and extractive matter ; the 
outer rind of the Seville orange has an agreeable odour, and a bitter 
taste of the aromatic kind ; J both the taste and odour depend upon 
the presence of an essential oil which is contained in numerous small 
vesicles in the cortical part of the rind ; the leaves partake of the 
bitter and aromatic qualities of the rind, but in a less degree; the 
flowers are highly odoriferous, and an extremely fragrant oil of a red 
colour is distilled from them, and also from the outer rind of the 
fruit, and sold under the name of oil or essence of Neroli; this oil or 
essence is imported into this country from Italy, and is sold at a great 
price; we are told that 2 cwt. of the flowers yield only I oz. of oil, § 
which is chiefly used as a perfume. || 
Medical Properties and Uses. The bitter, or Seville orange 
* Vide Miller's Gard. Diet. 
+ The genus citrus comprises seven species, incIudiDg the citron, lime, shaddock, 
&c. Hurt. Cant. 
i The small unripe fruit dried (varying in size from a pea to a cherry) are sold under 
the name of Curagoa oranges, these are more bitter, but less aromatic than the rind of 
ripe oranges, and in tincture form a useful stomachic. 
§ Gray's Supplement, 
11 From t!ie high price of the 01. Neroli, it is frequently counterfeited with oil of 
Behen, in which orange flowers have been digested. 
