Moro
(Blood Orange)

Physical Features
Tree Size: Medium.
Tree Characteristics: Vigorous, spreading and round-topped. Fruit borne in clusters near outside of the tree.
Fruit Size: Medium. Smaller than 'Tarocco' but larger than 'Sanguinelli'.
Fruit Color: Rind, reddish-orange. Flesh, deep red, violet or burgundy.

Sicko Department
Ease of Peeling: Fair to good.
Seeds: Few to none.
Holds on Tree: Good.
Flavor and Juiciness: Juicy. Pleasant flavor with distinctive aroma.

The Moro is another Italian blood orange. The skin of the orange is colored red, which is usually a sign in nature that the animal, insect or fruit bearing that color. Are these oranges warning us off? Have they chosen the red coloring as a passive aggressive sign that proclaims "Humans! Beware! One day we shall choose the path of blood in vengeance for our Kin!"? All we know is that we won't know what they will do until it's too late.

Excerpts from Macbeth: From Act II scene iii:
Macbeth:It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood:
Stones have been known to move and trees to speak?

From Act V scene v:
Messenger: As I did stand my watch upon the hill,
I look'd toward Birnam, and anon, methought,
The wood began to move.

Macbeth: Liar and slave!

Messenger: Let me endure your wrath, if't be not so:
Within this three mile may you see it coming;
I say, a moving grove.

Citrus: How to Select, Grow and Enjoy describes the flavor of blood oranges like this: "The juice flavor of blood oranges is a pleasant surprise to most palates. There is the familiar citrus tang with a hint of raspberry." Ah, to have analyzed the taste of blood! And to have found it palatable! You are vampires, all of you! I call the Arizona sunshine down upon you!

Previous Orange Variety ***** Back to First Orange Variety
Sweet Varieties ***** Sour Varieties ***** Blood Varieties

Facts immediately after the orange type have been unmercifully ripped from Richard Ray and Lance Walheim's Citrus: How to Select, Grow and Enjoy from Horticultural Publishing Co., Inc. Facts used in the ranting paragraphs after the basic description are all true and from Citrus: How to Select, Grow and Enjoy, except for those obvious bits that are the Erin-madness.