__NOTOC__ ''Citrus myrtifolia'', the myrtle-leaved orange tree, is a species of ''

Citrus ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus ''Citrus'' is native to ...

'' with foliage similar to that of the common myrtle. It is a compact tree with small leaves and no thorns which grows to a height of and can be found in

Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Suda ...

, the

south of France Southern France, also known as the South of France or colloquially in French as , is a defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Marais Poitevin,Louis Papy, ''Le midi atlantique'', ...

, and

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

(primarily in

Liguria Liguria (; lij, Ligûria ; french: Ligurie) is a Regions of Italy, region of north-western Italy; its Capital city, capital is Genoa. Its territory is crossed by the Alps and the Apennine Mountains, Apennines Mountain chain, mountain range and is ...

, typically

Savona Savona (; lij, Sann-a ) is a seaport and ''comune'' in the west part of the northern Italy, Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea. Savona used to be one of the chie ...

, and also in

Tuscany it, Toscano (man) it, Toscana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Citizenship , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = Italian , demogra ...

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

, and

Calabria , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demographics1_title2 ...

). The fruit of the tree resemble small oranges. It has a bitter flavor and is commonly called by its Italian name, ''chinotto'' (). It is an essential

flavoring agent A flavoring (or flavouring), also known as flavor (or flavour) or flavorant, is a food additive used to improve the taste or smell of food. It changes the perceptual impression of food as determined primarily by the chemoreceptors of the gust ...

of most Italian amari, of the popular

Campari Campari () is an Italian alcoholic liqueur, considered an apéritif (20.5%, 21%, 24%, 25%, or 28.5% ABV, depending on the country where it is sold), obtained from the infusion of herbs and fruit (including chinotto and cascarilla) in alcohol a ...

apéritif, and of several brands of carbonated soft drinks that are generically called "chinotto". ''Citrus myrtifolia'' is sometimes planted in gardens. Due to its compactness, it can also be planted in a pot or other container. Isole_Brissago_16_apr_2016_3733

Synonyms

* ''Citrus aurantium var. myrtifolia'' Ker-Gawl. in Bot. Reg. vol. 4, t. 346, in textu. 1818. * ''Citrus pumila'' Marc. in Izv. Sochin. Obl. Sukhum. Stants. vol. 2. 1921.

References

* Chandler, W. H., S. N. Hooper & M. J. Harvey - ''Evergreen Orchards''. Kimpton London 1958: 535 pp. * Facciola, S. - ''Cornucopia. A Source Book of Edible Plants''. Kampong Publ. Vista 1990: 677 pp. * Hodgson, R. W. (1965): "Taxonomy and nomenclature in the ''Citrus''" (pp 317–331) - In: S. Krishnamurthi (ed.) - ''Advances in Agriculture Sciences and Their Applications''. Agric. Coll. Res. Inst. Coimbatore. * Mortensen, E. & E. T. Bullard - ''Handbook of Tropical and Subtropical Horticulture''. (3rd ed. 1966). Department of State Agency for International Development Washington 1964: 260 pp. * Morton, J. F. (ed.) - ''Fruits of Warm Climates''. Creative Resource System, Winterville, N.C. 1987: 505 pp. * Swingle, W. T. (1946): "The botany of ''Citrus'' and its wild relatives of the orange subfamily (family Rutaceae, subfamily Aurantioideae)" (pp 129–474) - In: H. J. Webber & L. D. Batchelor (eds.) - ''The ''Citrus'' Industry''. Vol. 1. History, botany and breeding Univ. of California Press Berkeley: 1028 pp. * Tanaka, T. - ''Species problem in ''Citrus''. A critical study of wild and cultivated units of Citrus, based upon field studies in their native homes''. Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science Ueno 1954: 152 pp. * Webber, H. J. (1946): "Cultivated varieties of ''Citrus''" (pp 475–668) - In: H. J. Webber & L. D. Batchelor (eds.) - ''The ''Citrus'' Industry''; 1. History, botany and breeding Univ. of California Press Berkeley: 1028 pp.

External links

* *
NCBI Taxonomy Database

Mansfield's World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops

USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) entry
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1074438 myrtifolia

Ornamental trees Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque