Kumquats

Kumquats
	Kumquat ( Fortunella spec.), Here the Malay kumquat
Systematics
	Nuclear eudicotyledons
	Rosids
	Eurosiden II
Order :	Sapindales (Sapindales)
Family :	Rhombus family (Rutaceae)
Genre :	Kumquats
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

Kumquat fruit, closed and open

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.

Web links

Commons : Kumquats ( Fortunella ) - Collection of images, videos and audio files

[Morton-1] Julia Morton: Kumquat . In: Fruits of warm climates 1987, pp. 182-185.

[FoC-2] 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 .

[GRIN-3] Fortunella in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.