But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids Why do oranges have peels?
Jun 14, 2024
Fernando Alferez from the University of Florida's Research Center discusses citrus fruits: why they have peels, seed protection, sourness of lemons and limes, seedless orange reproduction, year-round availability, citrus varieties, and the origin of the word 'orange'
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Fruit Protects Seeds
- The primary job of fruit is to protect seeds for reproduction.
- Citrus fruit is a modified berry called hesperidium with a tough rind and juicy segments inside.
Sphere Shape Protects Seeds
- Oranges are shaped like spheres because it gives less surface area for a given volume.
- This shape provides better protection to the seeds inside by reducing exposure.
Segments Facilitate Seed Dispersal
- Orange segments help seed dispersal by allowing animals to eat parts separately.
- This segmentation might give seeds chance to spread to diverse locations.