How To Look At An Orange

4 Different Oranges — Rosalind Ang, “Different Oranges.” 31 July 2018. Digital Photograph. https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/wellness/a-guide-to-5-types-of-oranges (Feb. 10th, 2022) ©Public Domain

An Orange is considered one of the most common fruit. Yet the beauty and individuality of the fruit are often overlooked due to this very fact. The various hues of orange, yellow, and red become blended into one preconceived image of the standard orange. As well as its complex anatomy that is never given more than a second thought while being consumed.

As the name implies an Orange is a round orange citrus that one can find in almost every supermarket around the world. What many seem to overlook is the vast variety of the orange and its many relatives such as the Blood Orange, Tangerine, Clemintine, and many others. What they all have in common is their tough outer skin or the Endocarp that works to protect the inside, but once peeled it reveals the citrus fruit referred to as Carpels, which can be divided into multiple segments for eating. Each variant of an Orange differs in size as well as the hue of the outer skin.

In-depth Look

Once you begin to pay attention to the small, usually overlooked details that pertain to an Orange, you can begin to take notice of its intricate detailing. The inside of an Orange holds tiny juice-filled sacs or juice follicles.

Gooddenka “Tangerine Pulp in The Backlight” (unknown date) *Close-up of tangerine pulp in the backlight.* Digital Photograph Feb, 10th. 2022 https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/orange-fruit-close-up ©Public Domain

These follicles are held together to create the part of the Orange in which we consume. Yet an up-close analysis would allow a viewer to see that these follicles strikingly resemble the veins of a human. Once you begin to see these complex details it allows for one to remember that all life is created with care and a certain level of uniqueness, akin to how each individual snowflake is completely unique. This is only further proven by the fact that each tiny sac in the Orange is its own individual plant cell. Such a revelation allows one to see the complexity and elaborate design that makes up each individual Orange.

Not only does an Orange’s genetic makeup differ between every individual Orange, but the uniqueness of the fruit is also further highlighted by the distinctive colours between each variant. Whether it be the deep red of the Blood Orange, the lemon-like colour of the Trifoliate Orange, or the unique coarse green of the Bergamont Orange, each holds its own individual characteristics akin to how every person on earth comes in different shapes, colours and sizes yet all hold the title of human.

Overview

Once you begin to truly look at an Orange, you begin to see how it works as a microcosm of life’s individuality and its uniqueness. Like a human being, an Orange has veins and its own personal genetic makeup unique to one’s self. The complexity of the fruit allows one to realize that even the most simplistic things in life are made up of intricate and unique designs.

Works Cited

Ang, Rosalind. 31 July 2018.”Different Oranges.” Digital Photograph. Accessed Feb. 10th, 2022. https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/wellness/a-guide-to-5-types-of-oranges

Gooddenka. “Tangerine Pulp in The Backlight.” Accessed
Feb, 10th. 2022. https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/orange-fruit-close-up

Disclaimer: Images in this online exhibit are either in the public domain or being used under fair dealing for the purpose of research and are provided solely for the purposes of research, private study, or education.