Hong Kong wild kumquat
Citrus japonica

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A shrub which keeps its leaves all year round. It grows about 2-4 m tall. It is spiny. The leaves are a narrow oval shape. They taper sharply at both ends. The leaf stalks have wings. The flowers are white, short and broad. The fruit are a flattened round shape. They are 1-2 cm across. They have 3-4 segments. The fruit become a bright orange when ripe.

The Fortunella's will probably be renamed Citrus. There are 5 Fortunella species.

Where it is found

It grows in subtropical locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China (country/location of origin), Cuba, Fiji, Hainan, Hawaii, Hong Kong (country/location of origin), Japan, Korea, Mexico, Pacific, Samoa, SE Asia, Taiwan, USA, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are used for sweetmeats and candy. The fruit are preserved in honey and used as flavouring.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It fruits during the winter months.

Its other names

Local names

Changshou kumquat, Chin chu, Chin tou, Formosan kumquat, Gold orange, Jin Gan, Kam quat, Kindzu, Long life kumquat, Shan chi kan

Synonyms

Atalantia hindsii (Champ. ex Benth.) Oliv. × Citrofortunella madurensis (Lour.) D.Rivera & al. Citrus × aurantium var. globifera Engl. Citrus × aurantium var. japonica (Thunb.) Hook.f. Citrus × aurantium subsp. japonica (Thunb.) Engl. Citrus aurantium var. japonica (Thunb.) Hook. Citrus × aurantium var. olivicormis Risso ex Loisel. Citrus aurantium var. oliviformis Risso ex Loisel. Citrus erythrocarpa Hayata Citrus hindsii (Champ. ex Benth.) Govaerts Citrus inermis Roxb. Citrus japonica var. fructu-elliptica Siebold & Zucc. Citrus japonica var. madurensis (Lour.) Guillaumin Citrus japonica var. margarita (Lour.) Guillaumin Citrus kinokuni Yu.Tanaka Citrus madurensis Lour. Citrus margarita Lour. Citrus microcarpa Bunge Citrus nobilis var. inermis (Roxb.) Sagot Fortunella bawangica C.C.Huang Fortunella chintou (Swingle) C.C. Huang Fortunella crassifolia Swingle Fortunella hindsii (Champ. ex Benth.) Swingle Fortunella hindsii var. chintou Swingle Fortunella japonica (Thunb.) Swingle Fortunella margarita (Lour.) Swingle Fortunella obovata Tanaka Limonia monophylla Lour. Sclerostylis hindsii Champ. ex Benth.; Sclerostylis venosa Champ. ex Benth.;