A type of fruit belonging to the genus of citrus fruits, characterized by a separable rind and segmented flesh.
From hesperid (the golden apples of the Hesperides) plus -ate. The term was applied to citrus fruits as a poetic reference to the golden apples of mythology because of their similar appearance and origin in western lands.
Scientists essentially named oranges, lemons, and grapefruits after Greek mythological golden apples—a beautiful example of how ancient stories shaped how we categorize the natural world!
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