Categories
Fruits & Vegetables

(Calamondin) Citrofortunella

Botanical Name: Citrofortunella microcarpa
Family: Rutaceae (Rue family)
Kingdom : Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom:Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
Infrakingdom:Streptophyta (land plants)

Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
Subclass:Rosidae
Order:Sapindales
Genus:Citrofortunella J.W. Ingram & H.E. Moore
Species:Citrofortunella microcarpa (Bunge) Wijnands (calamondin)

Synonyms:
*Citrofortunella microcarpa (Bunge) Wijnands
*Citrofortunella mitis (Blanco) J.W.Ingram & H.E.Moore
*Citrofortunella mitis (Blanco) J. Ingram & H.E. Moore
*Citrus × mitis Blanco
*Citrus × mitis f. gekkitsu Hayata
*Citrus × mitis f. shikikitsu Hayata

Common Nmaes: Calamandarin, Calamansi, Calmondin, Calamondin Orange, China Orange, Chinese Orange, Golden Lime, Musk Lime, Philippine Lime, Panama Orange, Scarlet Lime, Limau Kesturi, Limau Chuit, hazara, kalamunding, ma nao wan, szu kai kat, calamonding.

Name in Other Languages Chinese : Jin Ju, Si Ji Ju, Szu Kai Kat, Yue Ju
Danish : Stueappelsin
English: calamondin, golden lime, hazara, kalamunding, Limau kesturi, ma nao wan, musk lime, panama orange, szu kai kat, China-orange, Panama-orange, Philippine-lime, Calamandarin, Calamonding
German : Zwergapfelsine
Finnish : Kalamondiini
Hawaiian : ‘Alani ‘Aawa ‘Awa
India : Hazara
Indonesia : Jeruk Kasturi, Jeruk Peres, Jeruk Potong, Djerook kastoori,
Japanese : Karamonjin, Shikikikat, Shiki Kitsu, Shiki Kitsu, Tokinkan
Malaysia : Limau Chuit, Limau Kesturi
Palauan : Kingkang
Philippines : Agridolsi, Limonsito (Bisayan ), Aldonisis, Calamansi, Kalamansi, Kalamondin, Kalamunding
Polish : Kalamondina
Portuguese : Limoeiro Do Japão
Samoan : Tipolo Iapani
Spanish : Lemonsito, Naranjita De San José
Thailand : Ma-Nao-Wan, Som Chit ( Bangkok ), Som Mapit
Vietnamese : Tâc, Hanh

Habitat : The plant is said to have originated from China or Philippines and has spread out through South East Asia, India, Hawaii, West Indies, Central and North America .

Description:
Calamondin is a medium sized evergreen shrub or small tree that grows about 6 1/2 to 25 ft. (2-7.5 m) tall. The plant is adapted to warm climates but it can also grow in cool, frost-free areas. It is also adaptable to areas with long dry periods provided irrigation is available. This fruit thrives well in cold climates unlike other citrus fruits. It thrives well when planted in containers or tub as a flower. This fruit is also draught resistant than other citrus species do. However, for it to grow well and bear fruits, it requires bright light with slow release fertilizer added to it especially at the beginning of spring as that is its season to produce. The plant is adaptable to a wide range of soils from clay loams to calcareous soils to sandy soils. It does best in well-drained, sandy loams or clay loams rich in organic matter. It is moderately drought-tolerant and intolerant of strong winds.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

The plant has deep tap root and sparsely spiny stem. Branchlets are strongly angled and glabrous. Evergreen leaves (technically single leaflets) are alternate, aromatic, broad-oval, dark-green, glossy on the upper surface, yellowish-green beneath, 1 1/2 to 3 in (4-7.5 cm) long, faintly toothed at the apex, with short, narrowly-winged petiole that is 8–12 mm long, very narrowly winged, 1–2 mm wide.

Flowers & Fruits:
Flowers are axillary or terminal, usually solitary, sometimes 2–3 flowered, bisexual, fragrant. Rachis is 5 mm long, glabrous. Pedicels are 6–8 mm long and glabrous. Calyx is 1 mm long, deeply 5-lobed. Lobes are acute, minutely pubescent. Petals are 5, elliptic-oblong, pure-white c. 12 mm long. Filament is 7 mm long, anthers ellipsoidal, c. 1 mm long. Style is 3 mm long. Flowers are followed globose or oblate, juicy, golf-ball sized orange fruit, 2–4.5 cm diameter, rind thin dotted with numerous small oil glands,) which is edible but the pulp and juice are very acidic (sour). The peel is sweet. Fruits are initially green turning to yellow, orange yellow or deep orange as they mature. Fruit skin is thin, spongy and smooth which surrounds fleshy orange pulp. Each fruit contains 6-9 fleshy segments. Seeds are large, smooth 1–5 small, obovoid, green within and polyembryonic. Fruit remains on the plant for a long time (takes up to one year for fruit to ripen to orange).Fruits are avaible from November to June.

Propagation: Seeds or as rooted cuttings

Edible Uses: Fruit are eaten raw or cooked. Very acidic, it can be used in all the ways that lemons are used. It is used in making lemonade,jam, marmalade, and various other forms.

Medicinal Uses & health benefits:
*Weight Loss
*Controls Cholesterol Levels
*Improves Respiratory Health
*Lowers Acidity
*Boosts Immunity
*Promotes Collagen Production
*Detoxifies the Body
*Controls Diabetes
*Skin Care
*Prevents oral problems

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/calamondin/
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Citrofortunella+floridana

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