Citrus margarita
Species of kumquat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Citrus margarita, the oval kumquat[4] or Nagami kumquat,[5][6] is a species of kumquat;[1] a type of citrus fruit in the genus Citrus, family Rutaceae.[7] Its epithet, margarita, is Latin for pearly.[8]
| Citrus margarita | |
|---|---|
| |
| Fruit | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Genus: | Citrus |
| Species: | C. margarita |
| Binomial name | |
| Citrus margarita | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
It is first described by the Portuguese botanist João de Loureiro in 1790, in his Flora cochinchinensis under the name Citrus margarita.[7][9] It is described again by the American botanist Walter Tennyson Swingle in 1915, as varieties of Citrus japonica.[10] However, recent phylogenetic analysis suggested that C. margarita is a single 'true' species.[1][2][7][11]
Description
C. margarita grows 8–12 ft (2.4–3.7 m) tall. The branches have few, to no spines.[12]
It has simple, alternate leaves, which are dark green above, and pale below and have a leathery texture. They are lanceolate (narrow) with an obtuse tip.[4] They grow to up to 10 cm (3.9 in) long, and 3–4.5 cm (1.2–1.8 in) wide. The axillary flowers are white with 5 sepals and 5 petals and 16–20 stamens. They can be single or in clusters, and have persistent styles, and deep seated oil glands. The ovaries are made of 4–5 cells.[13] The peduncles are 3–5 millimetres (0.12–0.20 in). The clavate stigma is hollow and enlarged at the top.[14]
The fruits of C. margarita are oblong, measuring 3 cm × 4 cm (1.2 in × 1.6 in), and have orange peels and flesh.[8] They mature in late winter and have 4–5 segments each.[15] The peel is 2 mm (0.079 in) and sweet, with conspicuous oil cells. The flesh is sour, with spindle-shaped juice vesicles.[13][16] Each fruit has 2-5 green monoembryonic seeds that need to be removed before consumption.[12][17] Its cotyledons are light green.[13]
Distribution and habitat
C. margarita is native to southeast China.[18] It is cultivated in Central and South America, Sicily, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Hawaii and Malaysia.[19] It was introduced to Florida in 1885 from Japan, where it became the most commonly cultivated variety of kumquat.[17] It does best in temperatures of 25–30 °C (77–86 °F) in the summer, and is frost-tolerant, withstanding temperatures as low as −8 °C (18 °F). It prefers full sun, however it can tolerate light shade. It does poorly in soils that are water-logged or rich with calcium carbonate, preferring well-drained soils with a pH of 6–6.5.[12]
Ecology
C. margarita are relatively cold-hardy, due to their ability to become semi-dormant between late fall and early spring.[5] It flowers in the summer, and its fruits mature in late winter.[20]
Cultivation
Occasionally, the oval kumquat is grafted on the calamondin.[12]
Use
The fruits of C. margarita can be eaten fresh, pickled, preserved in syrup or made into jam.[21] If macerated in vodka or another clear spirit, they can be made into liqueur. They are often added to hot or iced tea in the Philippines.[12] The tree is often planted as an ornamental tree.[13]
