Botanical Name: Citrus japonica/Fortunella japonica
Family: Rutaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Genus: Citrus
Species: C. japonica
Synonyms:
*Atalantia hindsii (Champ. ex Benth.) Oliv.
*Atalantia polyandra Ridley
*Citrus aurantium olivaeformis Risso
*Citrus aurantium var. japonica Hook
*Citrus erythrocarpa Hayata
Common Name: Kumquat
Habitat: Kumquat may be native to E. Asia – China, Japan. The plant grows on light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Plant Description:
Kumquats is a small evergreen, sparingly armed tree, 2.5 to 4.5 meters (8 to 15 ft.) tall with a compact crown and angular green branches when young, thorn less or with a few spines. They are found growing in hot climate and normally prefer moist soil that is rich in organic matters. Leaves are oval to broadly elliptic, 6–7.5 cm by 3–4.5 cm, medium green, simple, with acute to sub-acute apex, tapering obtuse base, entire to sub crenulate margin and borne on inconspicuously winged 6–11 mm petioles. Flowers are solitary, or paired and axillary, white, bisexual; sepals green glabrous, 5 toothed; petals 5 white, oblong. Although a lot of kumquat trees are generally cultivated because of their fairly sweet, delicious fruits, also, they are utilized as decorative plants because of the desirable, gleaming leaves and delicate white flowers that blossom during the summer time. Additionally reduce twigs of the kumquat tree are used in most regions as Christmas time decorations. As a result of variety of the use, kumquat trees are increasingly becoming popular to cultivate in the home…….CLICK & SEE
Types of Kumquat:
The different kumquats are usually recognized as organic varieties instead of as cultivars. Listed below are those most used for food
‘Hong Kong’ or Hong Kong Wild……..CLICK & SEE
Hong Kong Kumquat technological title is F. Hindsii Swing which is also known as chin chü; Shan chin Kan, as well as chin tou from the Chinese-native to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Kumquat is tiny, with regards to the dimensions of a pea. In addition, it’s a sluggish grower, and is also very resistant of container culture, that makes it an excellent matter for bonsai farmers.
The Hong Kong kumquat has got white-colored perfumed flowers. Foliage is evergreen, shiny as well as deep-green. Fruits of the Hong Kong kumquat are tiny as well as globose, with the size a pea. They may be orange whenever ripe. The fruit is delicious, even though really small.
Chinese people group towards the foothills to collect the fruits in season. Under western culture, the very thorny shrub is cultivated simply just as one decorative pot plant.
‘Marumi’, or Round Kumquat……...CLICK & SEE
Marumi Kumquat medical title is F. japonica Swing also referred to as Citrus maduremis Lour.
This particular fresh fruit is spherical, somewhat oblate or even obviate 1 1/4 in (3.2 cm) lengthy. The color of the peel is golden-yellow which can be smooth, along with big oil glands, thin, fragrant as well as spicy. Its pulp has got 4 to 7 sections that is short as well as citrus with 1 to 3 seeds that are small compared to the ones from ‘Nagami’.
This particular fruit was completely explained the very first time in 1784. It absolutely was launched into Florida from Japan simply by Glen St. Mary as well as Royal Palm nurseries in 1885.
The tree actually reaches 9 ft. (2.75 m); is normally much like that of ‘Nagami’ with the exception that it is somewhat thorny, has got relatively smaller sized leaves and is also significantly more cold-tolerant; bears in the exact same season.
‘Meiwa’ or Large Round Kumquat……….CLICK & SEE
Big Spherical Kumquat clinical title is F. crass folia Swing also is known as ninpo or even neiha kinkan within Japan-possibly a crossbreed in between ‘Nagami’ as well as ‘Marumi’.
This particular fresh fruit is short-oblong to spherical, about 1 1/2 in (4 cm) broad. Its peel is extremely thicker as well as fairly sweet whose color is orange-yellow. Its pulp is frequently in 7 sections that is fairly sweet or even subs acid. It is usually seedless or even consists of couple of seeds.
The tree is actually a dwarf, often thorn less or even having small, strong spines. Its leaves vary from the ones from some other kumquats in becoming extremely thicker as well as firm as well as partially collapsed lengthwise. They’re pitted with plenty of dark-green oil glands.
It was presented from Japan by the United States Department of Agriculture in between 1910 as well as 1912. They’re broadly, cultivated in Chekiang Province, China, and much less generally in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. There’s an attractive type along with variegated fruits in Japan. This particular kumquat is perfect for consuming fresh, yet still is fairly uncommon in the United States of America
‘Nagami’, or Oval, Kumquat……..CLICK & SEE
Nagami, or even Oval, Kumquat medical title is F. margarita Swing. Nagami are usually obviated or even oblong that is 1 3/4 in (4.5 cm) lengthy as well as 1 3/16 in (3 cm) broad. Its pulp is split into 4 or 5 sections that contain 2 to 5 seeds. It really is grown in season October to January.
This particular plant launched from China into London in 1846 simply by Robert Fortune. This particular plant explorer for the Royal Horticultural Society. It absolutely was reported in North America in 1850. It absolutely was launched into Florida from Japan simply by Glen St. Mary as well as Royal Palm nurseries in 1885.
Its tree is actually 15 ft. (4.5 m) taller. An adult sample on rough lemon rootstock at Oneco, Florida, in 1901, bore a crop of 3,000 to 3,500 fruits. This is actually the usually grown kumquat in the United States of America.
Fruits:
Kumquats are actually a tiny, citrus fruits. They are normally globose to slightly oblate, or sub globose, which is 2.0–2.7 cm in diameter. Fruits are normally green when young and turn to glossy golden orange to orangey-yellow when mature. The fruit includes a fairly sweet, thin, fragrant external skin along with a sour internal flesh that contains 4–6 pulpy, juicy, orange segments. Although kumquats taste just like that of other citrus category fruits, they are distinguished in a way that they can be eaten wholly including the peel, but some people love consuming just the skin. The fruit consists of 1–3 small pointed seeds or some of them are even seedless. Due to its sweet and sour flavor it has been used in several food items since ancient times.
Edible Uses: The fruits are eaten fresh as they are swweet and delicious.Kumquats, with respect to the varieties, look like small round or even oval oranges, about an inch to 2 inches in total length. These types of fruits are a fantastic method to obtain vitamins A and C, in addition to fiber. Kumquats have a wide range of cooking uses. They might be candied or even pickled, utilized in kabobs, converted to jellies, marmalade as well as chutney, or even utilized just as one component in cakes as well as pies. They will add color as well as taste whenever sliced, in salads or even like a garnish for possibly hot or even iced tea. Their particular tastes mix effectively together with chicken, pork, duck, lamb, fish as well as sea food. They might be utilized to taste liquors as well as, with leaves linked, are spectacular like a garnish for martinis.
Nutritional Value:
Apart from their sweet and sour taste, kumquat is a good source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Consuming 19gram of kumquats offers 8.3 mg of Vitamin C, 1.2 g of Total dietary Fiber, 3.02 g of Carbohydrate, 0.16 mg of Iron, 0.018 mg of Copper, 0.017 mg of Vitamin B2, 12 mg of Calcium, 0.026 mg of Manganese and 4 mg of Magnesium.
Medicinal Uses:
The plant is antiphlogistic, antivinous, carminative, deodorant, stimulant. The leaves and fruit contain an essential oil, whilst the fruit also contains sugars and organic acids. The fresh fruit is antitussive and expectorant – in Vietnam it is steamed with sugar candy and used in the treatment of sore throats. It is said to be very good for infants.
Health Benefits:
*Enhances gums overall health
*Enhances Defense mechanisms
*Enhances Iron absorption
*Increases Lung health
*Protects from regular infections
*Decreases Inflammations
*Safeguards blood through over-clotting
*Decreases Cholesterol levels
*Minimizes lipids
*Reduces Chance of atherosclerosis
*Decreases Likelihood of weight problems
*Helps prevent depressive disorders
*Safeguards from coronary disease
*Assists protect from type 2 diabetes
*Decreases exhaustion
*Fortifies hair
*Fortifies nails
*Enhances concentration capability
*Minimizes joint pain
Other Uses:
*Marumi kumquat is grown as an ornamental plant in the garden, parks and as ornamental house plant in patios and terraces and can be used in bonsai.
*This plant symbolizes good luck in China, Japan and Korea and other Southeast Asian countries, where it is occasionally given as a gift during the Lunar New Year.
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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumquat
https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/kumquats/
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Fortunella+japonica
