Eriobotrya japonica |
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Japanese plum, loquat, pipa |
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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. |
Eriobotrya japonica |
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Phenology | Flowering spring. |
Habitat | Redwood forests, suburban and urban woodlots |
Elevation | 0–100 m (0–300 ft) |
Distribution |
CA; FL; GA; LA; Asia (China) [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Europe, n, s Africa, Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia]
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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. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 9, p. 432. |
Parent taxa | Rosaceae > subfam. Amygdaloideae > tribe Maleae > Eriobotrya |
Synonyms | Mespilus japonica |
Name authority | (Thunberg) Lindley: Trans. Linn. Soc. London 13: 102. (1821) |
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