Kumquats
Kumquats | ||||||||||||
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Kumquat ( Fortunella spec.), Here the Malay kumquat |
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Fortunella | ||||||||||||
Swingle |
Kumquats ( Fortunella ,) in the singular kumquat , even kumquats or Zwergpomeranzen called, are a genus within the family of the Rutaceae (Rutaceae). They are closely related to the citrus plants . Kumquat is the English spelling of the Cantonese-Chinese name came kwat (golden orange).
The fruit is usually eaten with the skin and seeds on it; the skin tastes tart and sweet, the flesh is usually very sour.
description
Vegetative characteristics
The kumquat grows as an evergreen shrub or small tree. It grows slowly and reaches heights of 2.5 to 4.5 meters. The densely branched branches have z. T. small thorns. The leaves are glossy dark green. The flowers are white, similar to other citrus flowers. Depending on its size, the kumquat tree can bear several hundred or even several thousand fruits per year.
Generative characteristics
The fruits of the kumquat are pear- to egg-shaped and no longer than 5 cm in length, they vary in color from dark orange to golden yellow. The tart and sweet tasting pulp is divided into five to six segments, which contain relatively large, edible, but slightly bitter seeds.
distribution
The kumquat originally comes from Asia , but is now also grown in America , Africa and in the warmest regions of southern Europe (for example Corfu ).
Systematics
The kumquats ( Fortunella ) cannot be systematically separated from the genus of the citrus plants ( Citrus ). All species can be incorporated into the genus Citrus under the name Citrus japonica . The individual species of the genus Fortunella are not found growing in the wild, but are all groups of varieties or varieties of a single species.
Some authors differentiate the following species in the genus Fortunella :
- Fortunella crassifolia Swingle
- Hong Kong kumquat ( Fortunella hindsii (Champ. Ex Benth.) Swingle )
- Marumi kumquat ( Fortunella japonica (Thunb.) Swingle , Syn . : Citrus japonica Thunb. )
- Oval kumquat ( Fortunella margarita (Lour.) Swingle )
- Fortunella obovata hoards. ex Tanaka
- Fortunella polyandra (Ridl.) Tanaka
In addition, hybrids were also bred; there are also cross-genus hybrids Citrus × Fortunella , called Citrofortunella , to which the Limequats belong.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Julia Morton: Kumquat . In: Fruits of warm climates 1987, pp. 182-185.
- ^ Dianxiang Zhang, David J. Mabberley: Citrus. , P. 92 - online with the same text as the printed work , In: Wu Zheng-yi, Peter H. Raven, Deyuan Hong (editor): Flora of China , Volume 11 - Oxalidaceae through Aceraceae , Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing and St. Louis, April 18, 2008. ISBN 978-1-930723-73-3 .
- ^ Fortunella in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.