Kumquat - Revision history

WikiWorks at 18:20, 8 April 2011

2011-04-08T18:20:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:20, 8 April 2011
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	\|flowers=white, single		\|flowers=white, single
	\|Temp Metric=°F		\|Temp Metric=°F
	~~\|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!~~
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	===Oval kumquat===		===Oval kumquat===
	====Description====		====Description====
	'''Fortunella margarita''', also known as the oval kumquat or the '''Nagami''' kumquat, is a close relative to Citrus species. It is a small evergreen tree, that can reach more than ~~12 ft~~ (4 m) high and ~~9 ft~~ (3 m) large. It is native to southeastern Asia, and more precisely to China. The oval kumquat has very fragrant citrus-like white flowers, and small edible oval orange fruits.		'''Fortunella margarita''', also known as the oval kumquat or the '''Nagami''' kumquat, is a close relative to Citrus species. It is a small evergreen tree, that can reach more than 12 ft (4 m) high and 9 ft (3 m) large. It is native to southeastern Asia, and more precisely to China. The oval kumquat has very fragrant citrus-like white flowers, and small edible oval orange fruits.
	The oval kumquat is an ornamental little tree, with showy foliage, flowers and fruits. It is also fairly frost-hardy, and will withstand negative temperatures such as ~~14 °F~~ (-~~10 °C~~), and even a little lower for very brief periods. It can be grown in USDA [[hardiness zone]]s 9 and warmer, but can also be tried in sheltered places, in USDA hardiness zone 8. Unlike most citrus species, the oval kumquat has a shorter growth period, and goes into dormancy fairly earlier in autumn. This partly explains its better frost hardiness.		The oval kumquat is an ornamental little tree, with showy foliage, flowers and fruits. It is also fairly frost-hardy, and will withstand negative temperatures such as 14 °F (-10 °C), and even a little lower for very brief periods. It can be grown in USDA [[hardiness zone]]s 9 and warmer, but can also be tried in sheltered places, in USDA hardiness zone 8. Unlike most citrus species, the oval kumquat has a shorter growth period, and goes into dormancy fairly earlier in autumn. This partly explains its better frost hardiness.

	====Characteristics====		====Characteristics====
	The evergreen leaves of the oval kumquat are deep-green and relatively small. They can reach up to 3 in (~~7 cm~~) long and 1.5 in (3.~~5 cm~~) wide. The white flowers of the oval kumquat are similar to the citrus flowers. They are strongly perfumed, and they appear relatively late in the growing season, generally late spring.		The evergreen leaves of the oval kumquat are deep-green and relatively small. They can reach up to 3 in (7 cm) long and 1.5 in (3.5 cm) wide. The white flowers of the oval kumquat are similar to the citrus flowers. They are strongly perfumed, and they appear relatively late in the growing season, generally late spring.

	The oval kumquat is a fruit that looks like any citrus fruit, with an orange rind. The fruits are oblong, up to 2 in (~~5 cm~~) long. Unlike the common citrus, which have a rind which is inedible raw, oval kumquats have an edible sweet rind. The flesh, however, is not as sweet as the rind, and is quite acidic and sour. This fruit is generally eaten fresh, with its rind. It can also be processed into preserves, jams, and other products.		The oval kumquat is a fruit that looks like any citrus fruit, with an orange rind. The fruits are oblong, up to 2 in (5 cm) long. Unlike the common citrus, which have a rind which is inedible raw, oval kumquats have an edible sweet rind. The flesh, however, is not as sweet as the rind, and is quite acidic and sour. This fruit is generally eaten fresh, with its rind. It can also be processed into preserves, jams, and other products.

	====Cultivation====		====Cultivation====

WikiWorks at 18:19, 8 April 2011

2011-04-08T18:19:30Z

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MediaWiki default at 11:10, 10 November 2007

2007-11-10T11:10:19Z

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:'''''Fortunella''' redirects here. For the [[brachiopod]] [[genus]], see ''[[Fortunella (brachiopod)]]
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Kumquat
| image = Kumquat.jpeg
| image_width = 226px
| image_caption =Malayan Kumquat foliage and fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Sapindales]]
| familia = [[Rutaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Citrus]]''
| subgenus = '''''Fortunella'''''
| subgenus_authority = ([[Walter Tennyson Swingle|Swingle]]) Burkill
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
[[Image:Kumquat Trees (Corfu).JPG|thumb|right|Potted kumquat trees at a kumquat liqueur distillery on Corfu.]]
[[Image:Heidi kumquat.JPG|thumb|right|Kumquat fruits]]

'''Kumquats''' are slow-growing, evergreen [[shrub]]s or small [[tree]]s, from 2.5–4.5 [[metre]]s tall, with dense branches, sometimes bearing small [[thorn]]s. The [[leaf|leaves]] are dark glossy green, and the [[flower]]s pure white, similar to other citrus flowers, borne singly or clustered in the leaf-[[axil]]s.

Kumquats originated in [[China]] (they are noted in literature dating to the [[12th century]]), and have long been cultivated there and in [[Japan]]. They were introduced to [[Europe]] in [[1846]] by [[Robert Fortune]], collector for the [[London Horticultural Society]], and shortly thereafter into [[North America]]. Originally placed in the genus ''Citrus'', they were transferred to the genus ''Fortunella'' in [[1915]], though subsequent work (Burkill 1931, Mabberley 1998) favours their return to inclusion in ''Citrus''.

Four or five species are currently accepted:
*''Citrus crassifolia'' ([[synonymy|syn.]] ''Fortunella crassifolia'') - Meiwa Kumquat
*''Citrus hindsii'' (syn. ''Fortunella hindsii'') - Hong Kong Kumquat
*''Citrus japonica'' (syn. ''Fortunella japonica'', ''C. margarita'', ''F. margarita'') - Marumi or Nagami Kumquat
*''Citrus obovata'' (syn. ''Fortunella obovata'') - Jiangsu or Fukushu Kumquat
*''Citrus polyandra'' (syn. ''Fortunella polyandra'') - Malayan Kumquat

Kumquats readily [[hybrid]]ise with other members of the genus ''Citrus'' and with the closely related [[trifoliate orange|''Poncirus'']]. These hybrids are known as [[Citrofortunella]]; examples include the [[limequat]], [[orangequat]], and [[calamondin]].

In appearance the kumquat fruit (generally called simply "kumquat") resembles a miniature [[Oval (geometry)|oval]] orange, 3–5 [[centimetre]]s long and 2–4 centimetres wide. Depending on variety, [[peel]] color ranges from yellow to red. A Nagami kumquat has an oval shape, while a Marumi kumquat is round.

Kumquat fruit is generally in season from late [[autumn]] to mid-[[winter]], and can be found in most food markets with other produce.

==Cultivation and uses==
Kumquats are cultivated in [[China]], [[Taiwan]], [[Southeast Asia]], [[Japan]], [[Europe]] (notably [[Corfu]], [[Greece]]), and the southern [[United States]] (notably [[Florida]]).

===Climate===
They are much hardier than other citrus plants such as [[orange (fruit)|oranges]]. The 'Nagami' kumquat requires a hot summer, ranging from 25 [[celsius|°C]] (77 [[fahrenheit|°F]]) to 38 °C (100.4 °F), but can withstand frost down to about −10 °C (14 °F) without injury. It grows in the tea regions of China where the climate is too cold for other citrus fruits, even the [[Mikan]] (also known as the Satsuma) orange. The trees differ also from other Citrus species in that they enter into a period of winter dormancy so profound that they will remain through several weeks of subsequent warm weather without putting out new shoots or blossoms. Despite their ability to survive low temperatures, as in the vicinity of San Francisco, California, the kumquat trees grow better and produce larger and sweeter fruits in warmer regions.

===Propagation===
Kumquats are rarely grown from seed as they do not do well on their own roots. In China and Japan they are [[grafting|grafted]] onto the trifoliate orange (''[[Poncirus trifoliata]]''). This has been found the best rootstock for kumquats in northern Florida and California and for dwarfing for pot culture. For this reason they are often known as "Dwarf Fruit". Sour orange and grapefruit are suitable rootstocks for southern Florida. Rough lemon is unsatisfactory in moist soils and tends to be too vigorous for the slow-growing kumquats.

[[Image:Kumquat-Crosssection.jpeg|thumb|right|Kumquat fruit cross-section]]

===Uses===
Kumquats are frequently eaten raw. As the [[Peel (fruit)|rind]] is sweet and the juicy center is [[Basic_taste#Sourness|sour]], the raw fruit is usually consumed either whole, to savour the contrast, or only the rind is eaten. The fruit is considered ripe when it reaches a yellowish-orange stage, and has just shed the last tint of green. The Hong Kong Kumquat has a rather sweet rind compared to the rinds of other citrus fruits.

Culinary uses include: candying and kumquat preserves, [[marmalade]], and [[Jelly (fruit preserves)|jelly]]. Kumquats appear more commonly in the modern market as a martini garnish, replacing the classic olive. They can also be sliced and added to salads. A [[liqueur]] can also be made by [[maceration (wine)|macerating]] kumquats in [[vodka]] or other clear spirit.

The [[Cantonese people|Cantonese]] often preserve kumquats in [[salt]]. A batch of the fruit is buried in dry salt inside a glass jar. Over time, all the juice from the fruit is extracted through [[dehydration]] into the salt. The fruits in the jar become shrunken, wrinkled, and dark brown in color, and the salt combines with the juice to become a dark brown [[brine]]. A few salted kumquats with a few teaspoons of the brine/juice may be mixed with hot water to make a remedy for sore throats. A jar of such preserved kumquats can last several years.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

In [[Taiwan]], kumquats are a popular addition to both hot and iced tea.

In [[Vietnam]], kumquat [[bonsai]] trees are used as a decoration for the [[Tết]] (New Year) holiday.

==References in Literature==
The Kumquat was the basis of a rather unique [[simile]] employed by [[Indiana]] author Ken Knarr in an oft-quoted passage from The Disc of Shame:

<blockquote>I spit out your [[love]], like a bad kumquat.</blockquote>

==Etymology==
The English name "kumquat" derives from the [[Cantonese (linguistics)|Cantonese]] pronunciation ''gam1 gwat1'' (given in [[Jyutping]] [[romanization]]; {{zh-cpl|c=[[wiktionary:金|金]][[wiktionary:橘|橘]]|p=jīnjú|l=golden orange}}). The alternate name [[wiktionary:柑|柑]][[wiktionary:橘|橘]], also pronounced ''gam1 gwat1'' in Cantonese (''gān jú'' in [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]], literally "large tangerine orange") is now more commonly written by Cantonese speakers.

Names in other Asian languages include:
*[[Japanese language|Japanese]]: ''kinkan'' (キンカン)
*[[Korean language|Korean]]: ''geumgyul'' (금귤)
*[[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]]: ''jīnjú'' (金橘)
*[[Nepali language|Nepali]]: ''muntala''
*[[Thai language|Thai]]: ''somchíd'' (ส้มจี๊ด)
*[[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]: ''cam quất'' (derived from the Cantonese) or, less commonly, ''(quả) kim quất'' (if transliterated from the characters 金橘 into [[Sino-Vietnamese]]; "quả" (果) is the Sino-Vietnamese prefix for "fruit")

==References and external links==
{{wiktionary|kumquat}}
*Burkill, I. H. (1931). An enumeration of the species of Paramignya, Atalantia and Citrus, found in Malaya. ''Gard. Bull. Straits Settlem''. 5: 212–220.
*Mabberley, D. J. (1998). Australian Citreae with notes on other Aurantioideae (Rutaceae). ''Telopea'' 7 (4): 333-344. Available [http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/73236/Tel7Mab333.pdf online] (pdf).
*[http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/kumquat.html Fruits of warm climates]
*[http://www.alpine-plants-jp.com/himitunohanazono/ninpoukinkan_himitu_1.htm ''Fortunella crassifolia'' Swingle - Fruits and Seeds] Flavon's Wild herb and Alpine plants

==See also==
*[[Limequat]] [A cross between a Lime and a Kumquat]
*[[Orangequat]] [A cross between an Orange and a Kumquat]
*[[Calamondin]] [A cross between a Tangerine and a Kumquat]
*[[Loquat]] [Although Loquats are not related botanically to Kumquats, the two names come from the same Chinese word for "orange."]

[[Category:Citrus]]
[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
[[Category:Chinese cuisine]]
[[Category:Fruit]]