Citrus margarita

Citrus margarita, the oval kumquat^[4] or Nagami kumquat,^[5][6] is a species of kumquat;^[1] a type of citrus fruit in the genus Citrus, family Rutaceae.^[7] Its epithet, margarita, is Latin for pearly.^[8]

It is first described by the Portuguese botanist João de Loureiro in 1790, in his Flora cochinchinensis under the name Citrus margarita.^[7][9] It is described again by the American botanist Walter Tennyson Swingle in 1915, as varieties of Citrus japonica.^[10] However, recent phylogenetic analysis suggested that C. margarita is a single 'true' species.^{[1][2][7][11]}

C. margarita grows 8–12 ft (2.4–3.7 m) tall. The branches have few, to no spines. ^[12]

It has simple, alternate leaves, which are dark green above, and pale below and have a leathery texture. They are lanceolate (narrow) with an obtuse tip.^[4] They grow to up to 10 cm (3.9 in) long, and 3–4.5 cm (1.2–1.8 in) wide. The axillary flowers are white with 5 sepals and 5 petals and 16-20 stamens. They can be single or in clusters, and have persistent styles, and deep seated oil glands. The ovaries are made of 4-5 cells.^[13] The peduncles are 3–5 millimetres (0.12–0.20 in). The clavate stigma is hollow and enlarged at the top.^[14]

The fruits of C. margarita are oblong, measuring 3 cm × 4 cm (1.2 in × 1.6 in), and have orange peels and flesh.^[8] They mature in late winter and have 4-5 segments each.^[15] The peel is 2 mm (0.079 in) and sweet, with conspicuous oil cells. The flesh is sour, with spindle-shaped juice vesicles. ^[13][16] Each fruit has 2-5 green monoembryonic seeds that need to be removed before consumption.^{[12] [17]}Its cotyledons are light green.^[13]

C. margarita is native to southeast China.^[18] It is cultivated in Central and South America, Sicily, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Hawaii and Malaysia.^[19] It was introduced to Florida in 1885 from Japan, where it became the most commonly cultivated variety of kumquat. ^[17] It does best in temperatures of 25–30 °C (77–86 °F) in the summer, and is frost-tolerant, withstanding temperatures as low as −8 °C (18 °F). It prefers full sun, however it can tolerate light shade. It does poorly in soils that are water-logged or rich with calcium carbonate, preferring well-drained soils with a pH of 6-6.5.^[12]

C. margarita are relatively cold-hardy, due to their ability to become semi-dormant between late fall and early spring.^[5] It flowers in the summer, and its fruits mature in late winter. ^[20]

Occasionally, the oval kumquat is grafted on the calamondin.^[12]

The fruits of C. margarita can be eaten fresh, pickled, preserved in syrup or made into jam.^[21] If macerated in vodka or another clear spirit, they can be made into liqueur. They are often added to hot or iced tea in the Philippines..^[12] The tree is often planted as an ornamental tree.^[13]