Mespilus germanica

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 478. 1753.

Common names: Common medlar
IllustratedIntroduced
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 644. Mentioned on page 643.

Stems not fascicled; twigs sometimes thorny, thorns 1–2 cm. Leaves closely spaced on twigs; petiole 1–4 mm; blade: lateral-veins 8–12 per side. Inflorescences 1 (or 2) -flowered; bracteoles 5–15 mm, adaxially hairy, marginal glands absent. Flowers: anthers red (cream). 2n = 34.


Phenology: Flowering May.
Habitat: Scrubby habitats
Elevation: 700 m

Distribution

V9 1110-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Wash., w Eurasia

Discussion

Mespilus germanica is native to western Eurasia, primarily to the east and south of the Black Sea. The species was previously widely cultivated as a minor fruit in the Old World; it is hardly known in North America outside arboreta. The brownish fruits are related to a relatively unusual mechanism of fruit dispersal by carnivorous animals (C. M. Herrera 1989) found also in other Maleae species. The only wild plants known from the flora area are in Washington; there are other suitable areas in North America where this species might become naturalized.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"thin" is not a number.

... more about "Mespilus germanica"
2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br /> (3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br />) +
notched +
James B. Phipps +
Linnaeus +
dark gray-brown +  and grayish +
compound +  and simple +
opposite +  and alternate +
oblong-ovate +, narrowly elliptic +  and oblanceolate +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (12 cm120 mm <br />0.12 m <br />) +
coriaceous +
persistent +  and caducous +
membranous;coriaceous +
adnate +  and connate +
Common medlar +
Wash. +  and w Eurasia +
not +  and aggregated +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
not +  and aggregated +
not +  and aggregated +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
pubescent +  and glabrous +
Scrubby habitats +
canescent +  and constricted +
crassinucellate +
deciduous +
camptodromous +
serrate +, entire +  and asymmetric +
lobed +  and entire +
inferior +  and superior +
biseriate +  and clustered +
collateral +  and basal +
2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br /> (3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br />) +
0 (?) +  and 4 (?) +
free +  and distinct +
suborbiculate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
Flowering May. +
adnate +, free +, connate +  and distinct +
not arillate +
persistent +
free +  and distinct +
erect +  and spreading +
triangular +
leafy +, unarmed +  and armed +
Illustrated +  and Introduced +
free +  and distinct +
branched +  and simple +
1 +  and few +
persistent +
distinct +
subterminal +
elongate +
Crataegus sect. Mespilus +
Mespilus germanica +
Mespilus +
species +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
inconspicuous +
tree +  and shrub +