Pseudocydonia
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| iPseudocydonia | ||||||||||||||||
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| Pseudocydonia sinensis (Dum.Cours.) C.K.Schneid. |
Pseudocydonia sinensis (Chinese Quince), the only species in the genus Pseudocydonia, is a deciduous or semi-evergreen tree in the family Rosaceae, native to eastern Asia in China. It is closely related to the European genus Cydonia and the east Asian genus Chaenomeles, but differing from the former in the serrated leaves, and from the latter in lacking thorns, and in the flowers being produced singly, not in clusters.
It grows to 10-18 m tall, with a dense, twiggy crown. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, 6-12 cm long and 3-6 cm broad, and have a serrated margin. The flowers are 2.5-4 cm diameter, with five pale pink petals; flowering is in mid spring. The fruit is a large ovoid pome 12-17 cm long with five carpels; it ripens in late autumn.
[edit] Uses
The fruit is hard and astringent, though they do soften and become less astringent ("bletted") after frost. It can be used in the same way as quinces for making jam. It is also grown as an ornamental tree in southern Europe.
