Citrus japonica 'Margarita'

Kumquat fruits of ovals

Called The Oval Kumquat ( Fortunella margarita ), also oval kumquat or dwarf orange, is a species of the genus of kumquats in the rue family ( Rutaceae ). She comes as all other species of this genus from Asia. When their original homeland applies southeastern China.

Description

The Oval Kumquat grows as evergreen shrub or tree, reaching heights of growth to about 3 meters. It has small dark green leathery leaves. The plant is relatively cold-resistant and can withstand light frosts; it is slow-growing, but can recognize a variety of fruits on the bush. The flower is 1.5 - 2 cm in diameter is relatively small, pure white and appear in the leaf axils of last year's long shoots. The flower often appears due to the profound dormancy of the plant, until May / June. For good flowering the Oval Kumquat needs a cool, light -wintering site.

System

The Portuguese botanist Joao de Loureiro described the plant in 1790 in his Flora cochinchinensis under the name Citrus margarita. The currently valid first description of the American botanist Walter Tennyson Swingle was published in 1915.

The Oval Kumquat is the most popular and most frequently offered for sale kumquat. The fruits reach Dattelgröße and are of sweet-sour taste. Very attractive act on Citrus volkameriana ( Volkamer Lemon ) and Citrus aurantium ( bitter orange ) grafted stem-forms.