Eriobotrya japonica

(Thunberg) Lindley

Trans. Linn. Soc. London 13: 102. 1821.

IllustratedIntroduced
Basionym: Mespilus japonica Thunberg Nova Acta Regiae Soc. Sci. Upsal. 3: 208. 1780
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 432.

Stems: bark ± smooth. Leaves: petiole 6–10 mm; blade margins dentate in distal 1/2, lateral veins 15–25 per side, apex acute. Inflorescences: branches stiff, densely rufous-tomentose, with 1–3 barely reduced leaflike bracts, flowers ± sessile; bracteoles deciduous, narrowly triangular, margins entire, rufous-tomentose. Flowers: sepals 3 × 3 mm; petals ± spreading, often notched, 8–10 mm. Pomes: flesh sweet. Seeds 3–5, black, ovoid, shiny. 2n = 34.


Phenology: Flowering spring.
Habitat: Redwood forests, suburban and urban woodlots
Elevation: 0–100 m

Distribution

V9 730-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Calif., Fla., Ga., La., Asia (China), introduced also in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Europe, n, s Africa, Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia.

Discussion

Naturalized plants of Eriobotrya japonica are only sporadically found in North America. The species is apparently native to east-central China (Gu C. and S. A. Spongberg 2003c), but it has long been cultivated and is now spontaneous in a much larger Asian area. The species is cultivated widely for its fruit in warm temperate and subtropical regions.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Eriobotrya japonica"
James B. Phipps +
(Thunberg) Lindley +
Mespilus japonica +
Calif. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, La. +, Asia (China) +, introduced also in Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +, South America +, Europe +, n +, s Africa +, Pacific Islands (New Zealand) +  and Australia. +
0–100 m +
Redwood forests, suburban and urban woodlots +
Flowering spring. +
Trans. Linn. Soc. London +
Illustrated +  and Introduced +
Eriobotrya japonica +
Eriobotrya +
species +