What Is the Phylum for an Orange?

Oranges do not have phyla.

A phylum is a category used in taxonomy and biology. Plants like orange trees do not have phyla, although they have a classification called divisions, which acts like a phylum does for animal classification.

Identification

The division for an orange tree would be Magnoliophyta. That means the tree or plant flowers. Most trees are classified as Magnoliophyta.

Flowers

Plants in the Magnolophyta division use flowers to help reproduce. Flowers are pollinated by insects, which help the tree create fruit-containing seeds. The naval or sweet orange, however, is seedless. Small cuttings taken from a mature tree grow into more sweet orange trees.

Significance

Orange trees are known by different names around the world. One common name is sweet orange. By referring to a tree by its classification name, everyone around the world knows to what species of tree you are referring.

References

• Fairfax County Public Schools: Classification Group Explanations
• US Department of Agriculture: Profile for Citrus x sinensis (Sweet Orange)
• Palomar Community College District: Classification of Living Things: Introduction
• "Life, the Science of Biology"; William Kirkwood Purves, et al; 2006

Resources

• National Center for Biotechnology Information
• Floridata: Citrus sinensis