| Pseudocydonia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pseudocydonia sinensis | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Subfamily: | Amygdaloideae |
| Tribe: | Maleae |
| Subtribe: | Malinae |
| Genus: | Pseudocydonia C.K.Schneid. |
| Species: | P. sinensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudocydonia sinensis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Pseudocydonia sinensis orChinese quince (Chinese:木瓜;pinyin:mùguā) is adeciduous or semi-evergreentree in the familyRosaceae, native to southern and easternChina. It is the sole species in the genusPseudocydonia.[1] Its hard, astringent fruit is used intraditional Chinese medicine[2] and as a food inEast Asia. Trees are generally 10–18 metres (33–59 ft) tall.
The tree is closely related to the east Asian genusChaenomeles, and is sometimes placed asChaenomelessinensis,[3] but lacks thorns and has single, not clustered,flowers. Chinese quince is further distinguished from quince,Cydonia oblonga,[4] by its serratedleaves and lack of fuzz.
InChina, both the tree and its fruit are calledmùguā (木瓜), which also refers topapaya and the flowering quince(Chaenomeles speciosa). InKorea the tree is calledmogwa-namu (모과나무) and the fruitmogwa (모과; frommokgwa (Korean: 목과;Hanja: 木瓜), the Korean reading of the Chinese characters). InJapan, both tree and fruit are calledkarin (花梨; rarely榠樝) except in medicine where the fruit is calledwa-mokka (和木瓜) from the Chinese and Korean names.[5][circular reference]
Trees grow to 10–18 m tall, with a dense, twiggy crown. Theleaves are alternately arranged, simple, 6–12 cm long and 3–6 cm broad, and with serrated margin. Theflowers are 2.5–4 cm diameter, with five pale pinkpetals; flowering is in mid spring. Thefruit is a large ovoidpome 12–17 cm long with five carpels; it gives off an intense, sweet smell when it ripens in late autumn.[citation needed]
The fruit is hard and astringent, though it softens and becomes less astringent after a period offrost (via the process ofbletting). It can be used to makejam, much likequince. In Korea, the fruit is used to makemogwa-cheong (preserved quince) andmogwa-cha (quince tea).[citation needed]
The fruit is also used in traditional Chinese medicine.[2]
Chinese quince is also grown as anornamental tree.[citation needed] InHaeju, North Korea two Chinese Quinces planted in 1910 are national monuments, being probably the tallest of specimens in the country.[6]
