Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.

Spice Fruit In the University

Family: ROSACEAE

Genus: Eriobotrya

Catalan common name: Nesprer del Japó.

Spanish common name: Nispelero del Japón. Níspero del Japón. Nispolero.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Chinese-Japanese

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Macrophanerophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated species. Garden plants.

Description: A small, evergreen tree; it can grow up to 10m in height and has large, simple, lanceolate, dentate, coriaceous leaves, with parallel veins, which are dark green on the upper side and grey on the lower side; arranged alternately. The flowers are whitish-yellow and bloom in a great number of pyramidal, terminal panicles covered in a dense layer of hairs making them look like velvet. They are brownish-yellow with five, free, ovate petals. The fruit is pear-shaped, globular or ellipsoid, very aromatic, hard, yellow with thin peel which is easy to peel off.

Observations: The fruits can be eaten fresh or in stews, and are also used in the production of sweets and liquors.