Loquat

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ERIOBOTRYA JAPONICA

Common Name: Loquat

Chinese Name: 枇杷

Family: Rosaceae (Maloideae) 薔薇科

Scientific Name: Eriobotrya japonica

Plant Type: Angiosperms (dicotyledons)

Flowering Period: Oct-Dec

Fruiting Period: May-Jun

Nativity to China/HK: Exotic

Fact:

Its green, glossy leaves have an elliptical-lanceolate sjape and serrated margins. Each leaf is 12 - 30 cm long and 7 - 10 cm wide.
Upper surface of leaves is dark green in colour while the lower surface is light green. A layer of white, velvety hair covers both surfaces.
Its creamy, white flowers which is 1 - 2 cm in diameter have a sweet and heady fragrance. The flower consists of 5 petals, 20 stamens, and 6 ovules. Terminal panicle is rusty-hairy and each consists of 30 - 100 blossoms.
Its pear-shaped fruits are yellow or orange in colour. A layer of soft hair covers the surface of the fruits. The edible fruits are sweet and juicy when mature and they grow in clusters of 4 - 30.
Each fruit is 2 - 5 cm long and 2 - 3 cm wide. 1 - 5 dark brown seeds can be found in the fruit.
Mature fresh fruits are edible and they mix well with other fruits to make fruit salads. They can also be used to make jam, wine, ejlly, and chutney. Immature fruits can be used to make pies and tarts.
In Chinese medicine, loquat fruits are made into a cough lozenge for soothing the throat. The leaves are mixed with other ingredients to amke an expectorant called pipa gao. It cna also soothe the respiratory and digestive system.

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