Large-flowered loquat
Eriobotrya cavalieriei

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A small evergreen tree. It grows 6-10 m high. The leaves are sword shaped. They are 8-18 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. There are teeth towards the end. There is a yellowish covering underneath. There are many white flowers. They are in bunches at the ends of branches. The fruit are oblong. They are 1-1.5 cm long. They are orange-red.

There are 30 Eriobotrya species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests. It occurs in mountainous areas above 1,600 m altitude. It needs shade when young and light when mature. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Indochina, Laos, SE Asia, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are sweet-sour tasting and edible. They are also used in alcohol production. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

In southern China it flowers in April to May and fruits in July to August.

Its other names

Local names

Kom Kwo Shue, So cavalerie, Ti ba hoa to

Synonyms

Eriobotrya brackloi Hand.Mazz.; Eriobotrya grandiflora Rehder & E. H. Wilson; Hiptage cavaleriei H. L,v.; and others