Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Mespilus

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Kingdom
  
Subfamily
  
Subtribe
  
Higher classification
  
Order
  
Family
  
Tribe
  
Scientific name
  
Mespilus

Rank
  
Genus

Mespilus Mespilus Wikipedia

Similar
  
Common medlar, Shadbush, Rosaceae, Quince, Eriobotrya

Mespilus, commonly called medlar, is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rosaceae containing the single species Mespilus germanica of southwest Asia. A second proposed species, Mespilus canescens, discovered in North America in 1990, proved to be a hybrid between M. germanica and one or more species of hawthorn, and is properly known as ×Crataemespilus canescens.

Contents

Mespilus Mespilus germanica Hortipedia

Common medlar mespilus germanica


Plant

Mespilus httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Mespilus are deciduous large shrubs to small trees growing up to 8 metres (26 ft) tall. The fruit is a matte brown pome.

History

Mespilus 1000 images about Mespilus on Pinterest Black sea One tree and

Mespilus germanica is apparently native only to southwest Asia and southeastern Europe, i.e. near the Black Sea coast and western Mediterranean, and Asia Minor, as well as the Caucasus and northern Iran, but it has an ancient history of cultivation and wild plants exist in a much wider area; it was grown by the ancient Greeks and Romans, beginning in the second century BC. Mespilus germanica was a very popular fruit in Western Europe during the Middle Ages, but has fallen out of favour there.

Literature

Mespilus FileMespilus germanica fruits RWjpg Wikimedia Commons

The medlar is referenced in William Shakespeare's comedy, As You Like It, Act III, scene ii, lines 117-120 in an engaging repartee between Rosalind and Touchstone, the Fool.

Within subfamily Amygdaloideae, Mespilus is most closely related to Crataegus, Amelanchier, Peraphyllum, and Malacomeles.

Mespilus H2gtNCGR Corvallis ltIgtMespilusltIgt GermplasmltH2gt USDA ARS

The genus Eriobotrya was once considered to be closely related to Mespilus. The loquat, one of several Eriobotrya species, was formerly thought to be closely related to the genus Mespilus, and is still sometimes known in some European countries as a medlar and is still sometimes called the "Japanese Medlar".

Many authors group Mespilus together with Crataegus in a single genus. When thus combined the correct species name is Crataegus germanica (L.) Kuntze.

Fruit

Mespilus germanica features an unusual apple-like fruit. In southern Europe the medlar fruits ripen fully and can be eaten off the tree, but in northern climates they require bletting to eat.

References

Mespilus Wikipedia


Similar Topics