Guangdong has always had two artifacts, one is Xinhui Chenpi, the first of the "Three Treasures of Guangdong", and the other is Huazhou Citrus, which is known as "Southern Ginseng". Huazhou orange, also known as Exocarpium Citri Grandis, is one of the top ten famous medicines in Guangzhou and is unique to Huazhou. Therefore, since ancient times, there has been a saying that "one gold is worth one gold", which is highly respected.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was listed as a palace tribute; In 2007, Exocarpium Citri Grandis was approved by the state as a geographical indication protection product, and 20 1 1 was also approved as "Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage". In 20 19, it was selected into the catalogue of agricultural brands in China, with great honor. The excellent quality of Huazhou orange is attributed to the unique natural environment in Huazhou, where the soil is mainly acidic red loam.

Appearance characteristics of Huazhou orange

Small evergreen trees, about 3-3.5 meters high. Branches are thick and oblique, young branches are densely pilose and have tiny needles. Leaves alternate; The leaflets of petiole are inverted heart-shaped; Hairy, especially at the edges of main veins and leaflets; The leaves are oblong, 8- 13cm long and 3-6cm wide, the apex is round or slightly concave, the base is obtuse, the edge is shallow and wavy, and the veins on both sides are pilose. The leaves are thick and soft. Flowers are fragrant, solitary or axillary.

Calyx 4-lobed; Petals are white and rectangular; 20-25 stamens; The ovary is round, the style is columnar and the stigma is huge. The fruit is round or slightly flat, with a height of 10- 15cm and a width of 1 1- 13cm, lemon yellow, large and obvious oil chamber, and the young fruit is densely covered with white fluff; The top of the fruit is round and dull, the top is concave, and the pedicel is slightly ridged around.

Pericarp is not easy to peel off, about 2 cm thick; The capsule has 16 petals, full stele, yellowish flesh, long spindle-shaped juice cells and sour taste. More than 80 seeds, oblate and light purple. Flowers bloom in March. The fruiting period is August-September.

Reference to the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Exocarpium Citri Grandis