Japanese loquat
| Japanese loquat | ||||||||||||
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Loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica ) |
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| Eriobotrya japonica | ||||||||||||
| ( Thunb. ) Lindl. |
The Japanese loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica ) is a species of loquat ( Eriobotrya ) of the pome fruit family (Pyrinae) in the rose family (Rosaceae). It is also known as Japanese medlar , loquat , Mispero , Nespolo , Nispero or loquat known. In Japanese it is called Biwa ( ビ ワ or 枇杷 ) and in Chinese Pipa ( 枇杷 , pípa ). Although its name suggests it, the Japanese loquat does not belong to the medlar genus .
description
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Vegetative characteristics
The Japanese loquat grows as a small, evergreen tree and reaches heights of about 7 to 12 meters. The bark of the twigs is yellowish-brown and dense rust-colored or grayish-rust-colored woolly hair.
The alternate leaves are arranged in a petiole and a leaf blade. The relatively short, rust-colored hairy leaf stalk is 6 to 10 millimeters long. The more or less, especially on the underside, short white-tomentose hairy to bald, simple and leathery leaf blade is ovoid or lanceolate to obovate with a length of 12 to 30 centimeters and a width of 3 to 9 centimeters. The upper side of the leaf is dark green and the lower side pale green. The leaf margin is completely sawn at the base and at the front (removed) to notched or serrated, the tip is rounded or pointed to pointed. The vein is, often alternating, pinnate and raised on the underside, with a central artery that is thick, slightly rust-colored, hairy on the underside. The stipules are 1 to 1.5 inches long.
Generative characteristics
The terminal, multi-flowered and paniculate inflorescence has a length of 10 to 19 centimeters. The rusty, hairy flower stalk is 2 to 8 millimeters long. There are small, rust-colored hairy bracts .
The hermaphroditic, five-fold, radially symmetrical flower is fragrant and has a diameter of 1.2 to 2 centimeters. The five egg-shaped sepals , with rusty and furry hair on the outside, are 2 to 3 millimeters long and can still be recognized by the fruits. The five white, short nailed petals have a length of 5 to 9 millimeters and a width of 4 to 6 millimeters. The petals are partly hairy inside at the base. There are 20 stamens with priemlichen stamens. The subordinate, multi-chambered ovary with a hairy lid consists of five carpels . The five relatively short styles are free and hairy at the base, the scars are small, head-shaped and flat.
The flowering period extends from September to October.
The round or pear- to egg-shaped apple fruits ( false fruits ) with the curved remains of the calyx at the top are 3 to 5 centimeters in size. Their thin, leathery skin, yellow to orange-colored when ripe, is more or less finely haired. The juicy " pulp " is yellowish to orange in color. The fruit contains one (especially in cultivated varieties), but usually a few to very rarely ten seeds. The hard, smooth and dark brown seeds are round to ellipsoidal with a length of 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters.
Chromosome set
The basic chromosome number is x = 17; Usually there is diploidy , but there is also polyploidy with chromosome numbers 2n = 34, less often 51 or 68.
Occurrence
There are only two known places in central China where the Japanese loquat is not influenced by humans: Nanchuan in the city of Chongqing and Yichang in the province of Hubei . Natural occurrences could also be found in southern Japan, or the loquat was introduced there very early by humans. It is widely cultivated throughout Southeast Asia.
The Japanese loquat came to Europe at the end of the 18th century and is now grown in many countries with a Mediterranean or subtropical climate. In Germany it thrives in regions with mild winter conditions along the Rhine . It also sets fruit here quite regularly - for example in Karlsruhe - at least if there is cover to the north during the early flowering period.
use
The Japanese loquat was initially grown as an ornamental plant. However, it is also increasingly grown for its fruits. The fruits are regularly available in Central Europe in April and May at markets and in fruit shops. They are usually offered as “Nisperos”, “medlars”, “Nespole” or “Nèfles japonais”.
Loquats can be eaten raw or cooked, with or without the shell. When steamed, they are particularly aromatic. They are mainly used in fruit salads, cakes or as jelly or jam. Their thin, leathery and yellow to orange skin is more or less finely haired and can be easily peeled off. The pulp of the loquat is yellowish to orange in color and, depending on the variety, firm or soft. It's juicy and refreshing and has a sweet and sour taste. The fruit tastes very sour when unripe. Ripe fruits can be recognized by small brown spots on the skin. They are not a sign of ruin.
The kernels are ground and used as a spice. They can also be roasted as a coffee substitute . Young plants can easily be grown from the seeds.
The fruits of the Japanese loquat are high in potassium and carotenoids and have a diuretic effect. As a syrup ( Pei Pa Koa ), it is used as a herbal medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine for pharyngitis , cough and hoarseness .
The medlar drink, which is widespread in Frankfurt am Main , consists of calvados and pickled fruits from the Japanese loquat.
The wood is very hard, e.g. B. are made from it rulers .
Systematics
It was first published in 1780 under the name ( Basionym ) Mespilus japonica by Carl Peter Thunberg in Nova Acta Regiae Societatis Scientiarum Upsaliensis , Series 2, Volume 3, page 208 and thus assigned to the genus of medlars ( Mespilus ). The new combination to Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. was published in 1821 by John Lindley in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London , Volume 13, Issue 1, p. 102. Other synonyms for Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. are: Crataegus bibas Lour. , Photinia japonica (Thunb.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex ash. & Schweinf.
Eriobotrya japonica belongs to the genus of woolly medlars ( Eriobotrya ), which, like medlars ( Mespilus ) and apples, belongs to the pome fruit family (Pyrinae) within the rose family (Rosaceae).
literature
- Gu Cuizhi, Stephen A. Spongberg: Eriobotrya. In: Wu Zheng-yi, Peter H. Raven (Eds.): Flora of China, Volume 9. Pittosporaceae through Connaraceae , Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing and St. Louis, 2003, ISBN 1-930723-14- 8 . Eriobotrya japonica , p. 138 - online with the same text as the printed work .
Web links
- Eriobotrya japonica from Phytoimages, accessed September 2, 2019.
- Loquat, Japanese plum at Growables, accessed September 2, 2019.
- Thomas Meyer: Data sheet with identification key and photos at Flora-de: Flora von Deutschland (old name of the website: Flowers in Swabia ) .
- Eriobotrya japonica at Plants For A Future
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Gu Cuizhi, Stephen A. Spongberg: Eriobotrya. In: Wu Zheng-yi, Peter H. Raven (Eds.): Flora of China, Volume 9. Pittosporaceae through Connaraceae , Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing and St. Louis, 2003, ISBN 1-930723-14- 8 . Eriobotrya japonica , p. 138 - online with the same text as the printed work .
- ↑ Eriobotrya japonica at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
- ^ Julia F. Morton: Loquat. In: Julia F. Morton: Fruits of warm climates. Miami 1987, pp. 103-108, at Newcrop online .
- ↑ Monika J. Peukert: Service tree ( Sorbus domestica ) and medlar ( Mespilus germanica ) - two rare wild fruit species on our orchards. Großstadtgrün, Edition II (orchards), March 2015, p. 35. BUND Frankfurt. online .
- ↑ a b c Eriobotrya japonica in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ↑ a b c Eriobotrya japonica at Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, accessed March 25, 2020.