Cydonia oblonga

Miller

Gard. Dict. ed. 8, Cydonia no. 1. 1768.

IllustratedIntroduced
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 487. Mentioned on page 480.

Branches purplish red, densely tomentose young, purplish brown, glabrous with age. Leaves: petiole 3–10 mm, tomentose young; blade 5–10 × 3–5 cm, base rounded or subcordate, apex acute or emarginate, lustrous or semilustrous. Pedicels 0–5 mm. Flowers: sepals 5–6 mm, apex acute; petals 15–20 mm. 2n = 34.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–May; fruiting Sep–Oct.
Habitat: Old fields, fencerows, wastelands
Elevation: 5–500 m

Distribution

V9 820-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Ont., Calif., Conn., Ill., Md., Mass., N.Y., Ohio, Pa., Vt., Asia, introduced also in South America, Europe, Africa.

Discussion

Cydonia oblonga is cultivated in the United States, particularly California and New York, for its fruit and less often throughout temperate North America as an ornamental and a curiosity. It is often used as a dwarfing rootstock for pears. In the Mediterranean regions of Europe, South America, China, and elsewhere, it is cultivated for the golden yellow aromatic fruit that is rich in pectin, making fine jellies and preserves. The fruit is also used in pies, turning deep red when cooked.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Cydonia oblonga"
Paul M. Catling +  and Gisèle Mitrow +
Miller +
Ont. +, Calif. +, Conn. +, Ill. +, Md. +, Mass. +, N.Y. +, Ohio +, Pa. +, Vt. +, Asia +, introduced also in South America +, Europe +  and Africa. +
5–500 m +
Old fields, fencerows, wastelands +
Flowering Apr–May +  and fruiting Sep–Oct. +
Gard. Dict. ed. +
Illustrated +  and Introduced +
Cydonia oblonga +
species +