Scientific name - Eriobotrya japonica Lindl

Eriobotrya derived from Greek 'erion' - wool, and 'botrys' - cluster, with reference to the arrangement of fruit.

Synonyms --

Popular names - loquat, medlar, Japanese plum, plum japan, nispero japonés, néflier du Japon, ameixa do Japão, Japanische mispel, pi ba.

Distribution and Habitat - originally from China and Japan.

Description - small tree, 5-10 m high, trunk erect, divide, tomentoase branches, erect and espana, bark gray-brown, smooth, crown open, umbeliforma in adulthood. Leaves persistent, alternate, simple, elliptical language-lanceolata, margine evening, acuminata; nervatiuni lecundare are thick and deep language that seems inflated between them, when occurring are pubescent andwith age are coriacee, the upper and the lower is glabra is pubescent, pear rust, 30 cm long, petiole very short. Flowers hermaphrodite, white-yellow, 5 petals, united in panic blossom type terminal tomentos rusty. Blooms in November-February. Grape fruit, ovoid, yellow-orange, yellow flesh, sweet and sour, July matureaza edible.

Growth rate - fast.

Tolerances - temperatures up to -10 ° C; drought.

Requirements - grows well in sunny exhibitions. The soil must have good aeration and good drainage. Prefers sunny or slightly shady exhibitions.

Propagation - by seeds or by grafting on Crataegus laevigata. The seeds quickly lose their germination. Alto is ready to June-July.

Boli and damage - Entomosporium eriobotryae, Destalotia funeral, Pseudomonas eriobotryae, Rosellinia necatrix.

Natural partners and Garden - Ficus carica, Magnolia grandiflora, Mahon Japan.

Cultivars and varieties - 'Golden Nugget', 'Champagne', 'MacBeth', 'Oliver', 'Variegata' (introduced to Europe from China in 1787).

Properties and Uses - in Europe it is cultivated for ornamental purposes, ideal for masking the southern wall. Do not use for training bonsai. To have higher fruit is a thinning of inflorescences necessary.

In China, the leaves are used to treat bronchitis and fever. The leaves are rich in volatile uleuri, vitamin B 17, which has curative properties of cancer. Gather leaves from spring to summer, dry in sunlight, using uncooked (uncooked), crushedwith honey. Fresh fruits are low in vitamin C but large amounts of vitamin A, depending on variety and color (epicarpul orange fruit are rich in vitamin A).

Fruit may be sweet, wine, fruit juice and dried fruit.

References

Christophe Wiart - Medicinal Plants of Asia and the Pachific - CRC, 2006

Constance Rogers, David J. Rogers, Mitzi Briscoe - Woody Ornamentals for Deep South Gardens, 1991

David A. Francko - Palms Wont's Grow Here and Other Myths - Timber Press, 2003

Frederick J. Simoons - Food in China: A Cultural and Historical Inquiry - CRC, 1990

Wu Jing-shades - An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica - Oxford University Press, 2002

Marie Harrison - Southern Gardening - Pineapple Press, 2005

Ran Levy-Yamamori, Gerard Taaffe - Gaden Plants of Japan - Timber Press, 2004

Robert A. Vines - Trees of Central Texas - University of Texas Press, 1984

YPS Bajaj - Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry 16 - Springer, 1991