Calamondin

Cultivated form: Citrofortunella - Variegata

The Calamondin ( x Citrofortunella microcarpa, syn. Fortunella Citrus, Citrus mitis ) is a naturally formed probably originally in China hybrid of the tangerine Citrus reticulata and the Kumquat Fortunella margarita type ( Oval Kumquat ).

The Calamondin is cultivated mainly in the Philippines, where it is called calamansi. Also in other areas of East Asia and the Caribbean it is often cultivated.

Description

Citrofortunella microcarpa grows as a tree and reaches stature heights 2-8 m. The egg-shaped leaves are significantly brighter than on the upper side dark green on the underside of leaves.

The Calamondin bears fruit after 4 years. The ping pong ball- sized fruit tastes very sour and is orange when ripe. It is rich in phosphorus, calcium, iron and vitamin C. For this reason, the juice is diluted with water and hot or cold drink sweetened with sugar as a preventive medicine and remedy for throat and respiratory diseases.

Cultivation

The cultivation is a problem, only waterlogging should be avoided. In order to improve the crop plant is fertilizing with ammonium sulfate or urea. There are a lot of fruiting, grateful potted plants.

The multiplication is done by Kopfstecklinge; Seedlings are not used for propagation because the propagation of cuttings in this variety is fast and easy, and the plants form sufficiently robust roots. In addition, seedlings need to until they bear fruit for the first time ( about 5 to 7 years).

More Citrofortunella forms

Citrofortunella eustis, Syn: Citrus × floridana, the Limequat, is a cross hybrid of kumquat and lime. The three best-known varieties are: Limequat Eustis, Lakeland Limequat and Tavares Limequat, bred by Walter T. Swingle in Florida in the early 20th century. You can substitute in colder growing areas of the tropical lime as a supplier of acid, highly aromatic fruit. Its fruits are yellow, extremely thin-skinned and slightly larger than the oval kumquat.

Intersections with süßfrüchtigen Citrus species

Nippon Satsumaquat, a cross between Satsuma mandarin and kumquat Oval and Kucle, a recent Italian crossroads, both hybrids are often propagated as decorative container plants. Its fruits are orange, sour, oblong- oval in shape and have about twice the size of the oval kumquat.

Documents

• Walter T. Swingle & Philip C. Reece: The Botany of Citrus and Its Wild Relatives. In: W. Reuther, HJ Webber, LD Batchelor (eds.): The Citrus Industry, Vol 1, University of California, 1967 Online.
• Bernhard Voss: Citrus plants from tropical to Hardy. Humbach & Nemazal, 1997. ISBN 3-9805521-3-6
• Bernhard Voss: citrus plants, Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH, 2005 ISBN 3-440-10174-6.