Chinese Quince🌸

A deciduous tree in the rose family, native to China and long naturalized in Japan. Pink 5-petaled flowers in spring give rise to large yellow oval fruit 10–15 cm long in autumn. The fragrant fruit is too astringent to eat raw but is made into preserves, liquor, and throat lozenges (karin extract). The attractive mottled bark (grey-green to brown, peeling in patches) has ornamental value. Not to be confused with the unrelated tropical 'karin' timber (Pterocarpus).

Identification Points

• ✓Alternate elliptic leaves with serrated margins
• ✓Pale pink 5-petaled flowers in spring
• ✓Yellow oval fruit 10–15 cm across with strong fragrance

Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification

Phylogenetic Positionバラ科 →