Calamondin

Calamondin (× Citrofortunella microcarpa or × Citrofortunella mitis) is an important citrofortunella, meaning that it is an intergenetic hybrid between a member of the genus citrus (in this case probably the mandarin orange) and the kumquat belonging to Fortunella.

Calamondin is used mainly as an ornamental tree, rather than for food, although the fruit is edible.

Names

Calamondin is called by many names, including: calamonding, calamondin orange, calamansi, calamandarin, golden lime, kalamunding, kalamansi, Philippine lime, Panama orange, Chinese orange, musk orange and acid orange.

Even the botanical name has its portion of confusion, the calamondin was formerly identified as Citrus mitis Blanco, C. microcarpa Bunge or C. madurensis Lour., all those referred to it as a citrus. Lately it has been given the × Citrofortunella mitis by J. Ingram & H. E. Moore.

Calamondin is widely cultivated in the Philippines, there it is called: (Tagalog: kalamunding, calamansi or kalamansî [kɐlɐmɐnˈsɪʔ]; Visayan: limonsito or simuyaw [sɪˈmujɐw]), in Malaysia it is also known as limau kasturi and is growing also in the neighboring northern parts of Indonesia and southern China. It is available year-round in the Philippines and is usually seen in its unripened green state. When left to ripen it turns a tangerine orange.