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About
The oval kumquat, *Citrus margarita*, is a highly cultivated citrus variety known for its oblong, orange-peeled fruit and sour flesh. It is notable for its adaptability, thriving in a wide range of climates while being relatively cold-hardy.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant grows 8–12 ft (2.4–3.7 m) tall with simple, alternate, leathery, lanceolate leaves that are dark green above and pale below. Flowers are white, with 5 sepals, 5 petals, and 16-20 stamens. The oblong fruits measure 3 cm × 4 cm (1.2 in × 1.6 in), featuring sweet orange peels and sour flesh. Each fruit contains 2-5 green monoembryonic seeds.
Distribution & habitat
Native to southeast China, it is cultivated in Central and South America, Sicily, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Hawaii, and Malaysia. It was introduced to Florida in 1885 from Japan.
Cultivation notes
The oval kumquat can be grafted onto the calamondin. It prefers full sun and well-drained soils with a pH of 6-6.5.
History & etymology
First described by João de Loureiro in 1790 in his Flora cochinchinensis under the name *Citrus margarita*. It was later described by Walter Tennyson Swingle in 1915, though recent analysis suggests it is a single true species.
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- easy
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