Scientific Name : Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.
Common Name : Loquat
Chinese Name : 枇杷
Family : ROSACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species
| Origins | Loquat is originated from China and has been long cultivated for over 2000 years. And further disseminated to Europe and the Americas. |
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| Meanings of names | The specific epithet japonica means from Japan, which could be mistakenly thought to be the origin of the plant. The Chinese common name ‘枇杷’ refers to its pipa-like leaves; pipa is a well-known traditional Chinese musical instrument. |
| Application |
Loquat is an excellent fruit tree in China and has been valued for its commercial and medical importance. Today, China is far and away the most leading producer of Loquat fruits in the world, with a stunning one million tons per year. The fruits can be eaten fresh and are beloved for its wholesomeness, sweet and sour tastes, and profuse textures from crispness to juiciness. The fruits can be also processed into loquat paste that can soothe lungs and throat. The leaves are bitter and can be used for treating feverish dysphoria, hydrodipsia cough with lung heat. Loquat serves versatile ornamental functions in parks by virtue of its dense foliage and handsome tree form. During the flowering period, the tree is blanketed in graceful white blossoms, rendering parks and gardens an alternative aura of vitality. In some Chinese Buddhist temples, Loquat is also planted as a surrogate tree of Saraca asoca (Sorrowless Tree), which is a widely planted spiritual tree in Indian Buddhist temples. |
| Growing habit | Evergreen tree. |
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| Height | To 10 m. |
| Stem | Bark smooth, brownish yellow or greyish brown. Branchlets densely rusty tomentose, stout. |
| Leaves | Simple leaves alternate, crowded at the apex of branchlets. Leaf blade thickly leathery, elliptic-oblong to broadly oblong-lanceolate, base cuneate, apex acute or acuminate, margin remotely serrate apically. Petioles short or sessile, rusty tomentose. |
| Flower | Panicles terminal, densely rusty tomentose. Flowers many, fragrant, petals 5, white, stamens 20, styles 5, stamens numerous. |
| Fruit | Pomes yellow or orange, globose to ovoid, lustrous. |
| Flowering period | October to December in Hong Kong. |
| Fruiting period | May to June in Hong Kong. |
Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website :
https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=6853
Scientific names from other databases :
― Flora of China : Eriobotrya japonica (Thunberg) Lindley
― Plants of the World Online : Rhaphiolepis bibas (Lour.) Galasso and Banfi