Kumquat

Kumquats or cumquats are a group of small fruit-bearingtrees in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, either forming the genus Fortunella, or placed within Citrus sensu lato. The ediblefruit closely resembles that of the orange (Citrus sinensis), but is much smaller and ovular, being approximately the size and shape of an olive.

They are slow-growing evergreen shrubs or short trees, from 2.5 to 4.5 metres (8 to 15 ft) tall, with sparse branches, sometimes bearing small thorns. The leaves are dark glossy green, and the flowers white, similar to other citrus flowers, borne singly or clustered in the leaf-axils. The kumquat tree produces 30 to 50 fruit each year.^{[dubious – discuss]} The tree can be hydrophytic, with the fruit often found floating on water near shore during the ripe season.^{[citation needed]}

The plant is native to south Asia and the Asia-Pacific. The earliest historical reference to kumquats appears in literature ofChina in the 12th century. They have long been cultivated inJapan, Taiwan, the Philippines and southeast Asia. They were introduced to Europe in 1846 by Robert Fortune, collector for theLondon Horticultural Society, and shortly thereafter into North America.

Benefits of Kumquat

• The kumquat leaves and fruit contain an essential oil, whilst the fruit also contains sugars and organic acids. The fresh fruit is antitussive and expectorant – in Vitamin it is steamed with sugar candy and used in the treatment of sore throats.
• The plant is antiphlogistic, antivinous, carminative, deodorant, stimulant.
• Kumquat are cholesterol, fat, and sodium free and provide a good source of fiber and of the vitamins A and C. Kumquats contain traces of calcium and iron. For those on a diet, approximately eight kumquats contain 100 calories.