Essentially, all names of orange in European tongues ultimately derive from Sanskrit nagaaruka or naaranga, which first lost is initial (Italian arancia) and then changed its now initial vowel under the influence of French or "gold". The latter association is also evident in the old species name (Latin aurum, "gold"), whereas the modern species name is a Latinization of China (older form: Sina). Equally, the Northern German Apfelsine means "Chinese apple". The German name for bitter oranges, Pomeranze, is a contraction of Latin pomum aurantium "golden apple". The origin of bergamot is Turkish: beg armudy "Lord's pear". Take a look at the list of names at the end of this article to find out oranges' names in different languages.
It is with difficulty that biogeographers have attempted to define the centers of origin and ancestors of citrus fruits. The multitude of natural hybrids and cultivated varieties, including spontaneous mutants, obscure the history of Citrus. The lack of sufficient descriptions and specimens, in addition to the destruction of the original habitats, contribute to the puzzlement as well.

In any case, citrus fruit trees originated in the region encompassing Southeast Asia and India. Citrus would have arose as a bitter fruit plant, possibly in what is now the Malay Archipelago many years ago. The modern fruit species probably evolved in China, where there is greater diversity in Citrus varieties and parasites than anywhere in the world. Birds, streams and humans spread Citrus seeds from their region of origin and locations of culture. The path of sweet orange culture may have first flowed from Yunnan to Upper Burma and from there to Assam.

The first written record of Citrus sinensis does not appear in Europe until the fifteenth century. In the sixth and seventh centuries, Muslim armies overran a vast territory stretching from India to Spain; orange and other citrus trees decorate their trail. Arab traders introduced further varieties of citrus fruits to Europe in the Middle Ages. Northern Europe grew acquainted with them because of the Crusades. The Portuguese introduced a variety of sweet orange from India which quickly replaced a bitter form. Then in 1635, the Chinese orange landed in Lisbon and succeeded the Portugal orange as the European favourite. These better-flavoured introductions encouraged the expansion of orange consumption and cultivation in Europe. Frost injury was a major obstacle to planting Citrus in Europe and cultivators directed much effort towards solving the problem. In the fourteenth century, "stanzone per i cidri", and later orangeries, were devised for citriculture . These structures are the ancestors of greenhouses.

The numerous health benefits of Citrus became apparent to Europeans during the Age of Exploration. Portuguese, Spanish, Arab and Dutch sailors planted citrus trees along trade routes to prevent scurvy. Important stops received Citrus sinensis, including Saint Helena, the Azores, Madeira Islands and South Africa. On his second voyage in 1493, Christopher Columbus brought the seeds of oranges, lemons and citrons to Haiti and the Caribbean. By law, each sailor on a Spanish ship headed for the Americas carried 100 seeds with him; later young trees were used instead. Ponce de Leon took citrus seeds to Florida in 1513 and instructed his sailors to plant seeds wherever they landed. Around the 1530s, Brazil began producing oranges, where they had adapted well to the coast and interior. The orange spread through the world, suffering mutations and giving origin to new varieties. During the major part of this period, citrus cultivation was more like a natural development - the culture of seeds would randomly change the flavour, the aroma, the colour and the size of the fruit.

The orange is cultivated over thousands of years now. Of all fruit trees, one of the best known, cultivated and studied all over the world is the orange tree. Research and experimentation to improve on the varieties of oranges began to be developed in Europe during the nineteenth century, after the dissemination of the Mendel and Darwin theories. All the studies were always directed at the improvement of the aspect, the size and the flavour of the fruit, as well as genetic betterment to arrive at plants resistant to diseases and climatic changes.

Today the most productive groves, which are the result of a structured form of citrus production, are in the regions of tropical and sub-tropical climates of Brazil, the United States, Mexico, South Europe, China and South Africa. About forty or fifty centuries after its presumed domestication, the orange has its biggest production volume in the Americas, where it was introduced about 500 years ago. The regions of São Paulo, in Brazil, and Florida, in the United States, are the main orange producers in the world. Citrus as a genus are not represented in Africa - although there is one obscure, very Citrus like member of the citrus family present, and that is Citropsis daweana. The Mozambique 'Cherry Orange' is a small tree of riverine valleys with citrus smelling leaves, and small, probably edible fruit. The orange was introduced to Australia by the British colonizers in the nineteenth century, and from Australia to New Zealand shortly after.

continue...