1247

 

Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle

Synonym	:	Citrus × acida Pers.
Family	:	Euphorbiaceae
Local name	:	English         - Bitter orange Malayalam  - Cherunaregam
Flowering and fruiting period	:	March-December
Distribution	:	Native of Malesia; cultivated in India
Distribution in kerala	:	Idukki, Palakkad, Wayanad, Kannur, Kollam
Habitat	:	Cultivated
Endemic / Exotic		Exotic
Uses	:	It is widely used because of its antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antifungal, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammation, anti-lipidemia, and antioxidant properties.
Key Botanical Characters  : Shrub or bushy tree, to 3 m high; branchlets slender with sharp spines. Petioles narrowly winged; leaflets ovate-oblong, rounded at base, crenate at margin, acute at apex. Inflorescences lax axillary racemes, 2-7 flowered, rarely flower solitary. Flowers bisexual, 20-25 cm across, whitish. Calyx cupular, greenish white; lobes 4, deltoid, glandular. Petals 4, oblong, glandular, white. Stamens 20-28; filaments polyadelphous, white; anthers oblong, yellowish. Ovary globose-depressed, greenish; style cylindric, white; stigma capitate. Fruits oblong, 4-6.5 x 3.5-5 cm, pitted, glandular, shining, green; seeds ovoid.