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Description: The Sweet Orange plant, Citrus sinensis, is small to medium-sized tree which can grow up to 12 m (~35-40 ft) in height. Normally, it develops slender, flexible, axillary spines. Its ovate to elliptic leaves are arranged alternately and acute at the tip with winged petioles. The white flowers of C. sinensis are 5-parted, fragrant and subglobose in shape. Its smooth fruit has yellow, or sometimes red pulp that is sweet to somewhat sour. According to Matanane et al. (2014:114), the two most common cultivars of Citrus sinensis in the Pacific region are the “navel (seedless) and Valencia (dark orange rind and juicy).” Under tropical climatic conditions, such as in the Micronesian Islands, “the skin color remains green or can change to yellow, but not orange.”
Distribution: Native to South China or Southeast Asia, the Sweet Orange tree, C. sinensis, has been introduced to a variety of Pacific Islands after European contact (Clarke and Thaman 1993; Smith 1985). Today, in the tropical Pacific islands it is cultivated in subsistence garden areas, fallow forests, village tree groves, and home gardens, including some in the islands of Micronesia. C. sinensis occasionally becomes naturalized in disturbed areas, and is normally protected when clearing new food gardens. In addition to its juicy fruit pulp, Sweet Orange has other uses in the Pacific Islands where it occurs; its timber can be used in light construction and it is considered to be a good firewood. Parts of C. sinensis including the fruit have been used medicinally is some of these islands as well as for a snack food.
Uses by Island and Island Group: Clarke and Thaman (1993) summarized the uses of Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) in the context of tropical island agroforestry: “Wood used in light construction and for firewood; leaves used medicinally and sometimes boiled to make tea; flowers occasionally used in garlands; ripe fruit eaten and made into juice and marmalade; fruit sold as a major seasonal cash crop in many countries.”
Uses in Yap: According to Falanruw et al. (1987:7) the Sweet Orange, C. sinensis, is one of many cultivated tree species “commonly found in the agroforest overstory” of Yap.
Uses in Mariana Islands: Safford (1905) described Sweet Orange or wild Orange tree cultivation and uses over a century ago on Guam:
“Nearly all the orange trees in Guam are seedlings. The fruit usually supplied to visiting ships, grown in the vicinity of Agat and Sumay, is inferior. Good varieties are produced in Mataguak, Yigo, and Finaguayog, in the northern portion of the island, and in Yoña, on the highland near the east coast. They are apparently free from disease and insect pests. Navel oranges were imported by the writer from California, and were left by him in a thriving condition. The climate and the calcareous soil of the island seem to very favorable for all varieties of citrus fruits. Oranges are easily propagated by cutting or by layers, but the most satisfactory method is by budding. For this purpose, seedlings of lemons or bitter oranges, which grow spontaneously on the island and are free from disease, may be used for stocks. They should be about a year old. February and March appear to be the best months for this purpose in countries with climates like that of Guam.”
In a 1928, a U.S. government agricultural report for Guam indicated that among the “native oranges” [alien ?] including a “tangerine and various grades or subvarieties of a larger orange known as the ‘cahit’ [were] generally preferred to the imported orange to provide a morning beverage;” in addition, this report also referred to the depredation of the local production of the “large orange” on Guam: “Until within recent years the cahit orange was abundantly produced on the islands, but disease, particularly scaly bark, has destroyed so many of the trees that at present the yield is not sufficient to meet local demands” (Edwards 1930:3). McMakin (1978:45) referred to the traditional medicinal use of Citrus sinensis (Lalangha) on Guam: “The peel is boiled into a tea that is taken to relieve the effects of stroke.”
Uses in Pohnpei: “Cultivated for its fruit, [the Sweet Orange tree, C. sinensis] was introduced [into Pohnpei] from the Philippines, Borneo, and Hong Kong during the German and Japanese periods…” (Balick et al. 2009:493; also see Ragone et al. 2001).
Uses in Kosrae: Kosrae is well known for its citrus fruits, and tangerines, oranges, limes and other citrus fruits are available from a variety of commercial outlets on that island.
Uses in the Marshall Islands: Citrus sinensis which is known as “Oran”(a linguistic corruption of orange) on Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands is reportedly a recent introduction on that atoll; it was also reported to have been present on Jaluit Atoll in the Marshalls, “but did not survive” (Vander Velde 2003:123; also see Fosberg et al. 1979).