What is the State Flower of Florida?
The Orange Blossoms or Citrus x sinensis is the state flower of Florida. Its scientific name is The Orange Blossoms or Citrus x sinensis. It belongs to Rutaceae family (citrus family). Citrus is the genus of the Orange Blossoms and its species is C.x sinensis. Florida’s state flower The Orange Blossoms or Citrus x sinensis is commonly known as Citrus sinensis, orange or sweet orange sour orange, C. aurantium, and mandarin orange, C. reticulata that derived in southern China, where it has been cultivated for millennia. Now a day, Orange or Citrus sinensis have been commercially grown throughout the world’s tropical, semi-tropical, and some warm temperate regions and also the most extensively planted fruit tree in the world. Orange is the world’s most popular fruit, which being eaten fresh and juice form.
Three things are most admired to the people of Florida and these three are; the image of sunshine, the beaches and obviously the third one is Florida Orange. Being the flower of the mostly choice full fruit the orange blossoms been easily judged as the only nominee for state flower emblem. On the basis of the above and without any surprise The Florida General Assembly has been designated the Orange Blossoms or Citrus x sinensis as the state floral emblem of Florida on November 15, 1909.
State Flower of Florida Facts:
- Common Name: Citrus sinensis, orange or sweet orange sour orange, C. aurantium, and mandarin orange, C. reticulata
- Genus: Citrus
- Species: Citrus sinensis.
- Found in: All over the world
- Color: Pinkish white
- Number of petals: 5
- Period of blooming: Spring
- Purpose: Fruit
- Symbolism: Distinctive beauty
Florida’s state flower orange blossoms or Citrus sinensis plant of small, spiny tree, characteristically growing to 7.5 m (25 ft), but rarely reaching heights up to 15 m (50 ft), commonly with a dense crown grows in full sun and sandy soil. It thrives in Florida, thanks to its climate and classically plentiful rainfall. Leaves of the orange blossoms trees are evergreen and leathery with a range from egg-shaped to oblong to oval, 6.5-15 cm long and 2.5-9.5 cm wide in size, frequently with slender wings on the leaf stems. Florida is the prevalent grower of oranges in the United States.
The scent of innumerable flowering Orange Blossoms fills the air of Florida in every spring. It is generating white Orange Blossoms, which are made up by five waxy petals and give off a sweet, fragrant scent. After one month of the appearance of its blossoms, the tree of orange bears its fruit, which is commonly, entitle the sweet or navel orange. The orange may be globe-shape to oval and it becomes yellow from green as and when it ripens.
Further than its pleasant appearance and romantic image, Florida’s state flower is also commercially valuable. There are plenty of products are made from the flowers including an essential oil, which is every so often used in natural skin care products and in aromatherapy. Honeybees also make a preferred product from the flower and it is the orange blossom honey. Its flavor and mild taste are making it a popular treat.
The flower of the orange tree is one of the most odorous blooms in Florida. There are millions of white blossoms from orange trees fragrance the air of central and southern Florida during the time of flourishing. It has also been recognized the orange as official state fruit and orange juice as the state beverage of Florida.
On the influx of the Orange Blossom that symbolizes a ground for Floridians to celebrate. The flower lovers of Davie, a small town north of Miami to celebrate the arrival of the Florida state flower with the Orange Blossom Festival. The renown is the three-day rodeo and music event celebrates Florida’s agricultural history
To sum up, Orange Blossoms or Citrus sinensis is the state flower of Florida that symbolizes distinctive beauty and also the spirit of the state that makes it as the state flower of Florida.
Ref
https://www.proflowers.com/blog/Florida-state-flower-the-apple-blossom
https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/Florida/state-flower/apple-blossom
www.encyclopediaofFlorida.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=3145
