Encyclopedia of Stanford Trees, Shrubs, and Vines

Fortunella margarita. KUMQUAT. China
RUTACEAE (Rue family)

The word 'quat' in Cantonese means orange and 'kam' means gold. This small citrus grows in passageways leading from the eastern entry to the Inner Quad, into the northeast corner of the Main Quad, and also in the northwest courtyard of Stern Hall. The golden oval fruit, about an inch in diameter, ripen in March and may be eaten whole. They can be preserved whole in syrup and retain their rich color.

In 1846 on an expedition to China for the Royal Horticultural Society, Robert Fortune brought back the kumquat, as well as the white wisteria and other novelties. Later he introduced the tea plant to India. His adventures on these travels are related in his interesting books in the Stanford Library.

Illus.: McMinn, Howard E. and Evelyn Maino. 1951. An illustrated manual of Pacific coast trees; with lists of trees recommended for various uses on the Pacific coast by H. W. Shepherd. 2d ed. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press.

Illustrations (links open new windows): habit

Additions/Revisions:

Name derivation, genus | species: After Robert Fortune (1812-1880) who collected in China, and introduced the tea plant from China into india (also see Tracycarpus fortunei) | pearl-like

Related material:

Botanical name index | Common name index | Family
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