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Associations

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Foodplant / parasite
epiphyllous pycnium of Gymnosporangium asiaticum parasitises live leaf of Chaenomeles

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Brief Summary

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The so-called "Flowering Quinces" (Chaenomeles spp.) can be distinguished from the closely related Cydonia quinces (e.g., Cydonia oblonga) by their toothed leaves and the united (not free) styles in their flowers. Chaenomeles fruits are more acidic than those of Cydonia and are quite unpalatable raw, but can be used in similar ways (e.g. to make jams, jellies, and pastes and to flavor cooked apples and pears). Various species and hybrids of Chaenomeles have been grown for the production of valuable aroma compounds and an acid juice in Latvia, Lithuania, and China. According to Phipps et al. (1990), the genus Chaenomeles includes four species (all diploids with 2n=34): C. japonica (a dwarf shrub endemic to Japan) and C. cathayensis, C. speciosa, and C. thibetica (all three large shrubs occurring naturally mainly in China). Chaenomeles cathayensis, C. japonica, and C. speciosa have been crossed extensively by plant breeders during the past several hundred years to produce a great diversity of ornamental cultivars. In nature, only C. cathayensis and C. speciosa are known to overlap geographically (in Yunnan Province, China). The typical habitat is open hillsides, rocky slopes, and ravines in thickets and at forest edges. Chaenomeles japonica, at least, is outcrossing and strongly self-incompatible. Rumpunen (2002) reviewed the potential of Chaenomeles as a new fruit crop for northern Europe. (Pearce and Thieret 1991; Vaughan and Geissler 1997; Bartish et al. 2000; Garkava et al. 2000 and references therein; Rumpunen (2002); Rumpunen and Bartish 2002)
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Chaenomeles

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Chaenomeles is a genus of four species[1] of deciduous spiny shrubs, usually 1–3 m tall, in the family Rosaceae. They are native to Southeast Asia. These plants are related to the quince (Cydonia oblonga) and the Chinese quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis), differing in the serrated leaves that lack fuzz, and in the flowers, borne in clusters, having deciduous sepals and styles that are connate at the base.

The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, and have a serrated margin. The flowers are 3–4.5 cm diameter, with five petals, and are usually bright orange-red, but can be white or pink; flowering is in late winter or early spring. The fruit is a pome with five carpels; it ripens in late autumn.

Chaenomeles is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the brown-tail and the leaf-miner Bucculatrix pomifoliella.

Common names

Although all quince species have flowers, gardeners in the West often refer to these species as "flowering quince", since Chaenomeles are grown ornamentally for their flowers, not for their fruits. These plants have also been called "Japanese quince", and the name "japonica" (referring to C. japonica) was widely used for these plants in the 19th and 20th centuries, although this common name is not particularly distinctive, since japonica is a specific epithet shared by many other plants. The names "japonica" or "Japanese quince" were (and still are) often loosely applied to Chaenomeles in general, regardless of their species. The most commonly cultivated Chaenomeles referred to as "japonica" are actually the hybrid C. × superba and C. speciosa; C. japonica itself is not as commonly grown.

Species and hybrids

Species accepted by the Plants of the World Online as of As of April 2023:[2]

Four named hybrids have been bred in gardens. The most common is C. × superba (hybrid C. speciosa × C. japonica), while C. × vilmoriniana is a hybrid C. speciosa × C. cathayensis, and C. × clarkiana is a hybrid C. japonica × C. cathayensis. The hybrid C. × californica is a tri-species hybrid (C. × superba × C. cathayensis). Numerous named cultivars of all of these hybrids are available in the horticultural trade.

Uses

Chaenomeles japonica, bisected fruit.

The species have become popular ornamental shrubs in parts of Europe and North America, grown in gardens both for their bright flowers and as a spiny barrier. Some cultivars grow up to 2 m tall, but others are much smaller and creeping. The fruits are hard and – although less astringent than quinces – are unpleasant to eat raw, tasting like an unripe apple with the acidity of a lemon, though they do soften and become less astringent after frost (via the process of bletting). The fruits are suitable for making liqueurs, as well as marmalade and preserves, as they contain more pectin than apples and true quinces. The tree is suitable for cultivation as a bonsai.[3]

References

  1. ^ https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:331479-2
  2. ^ "Chaenomeles Lindl. - Plants of the World Online". Plants of the World Online. 2020-03-13. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  3. ^ D'Cruz, Mark. "Ma-Ke Bonsai Care Guide for Chaenomeles japonica". Ma-Ke Bonsai. Archived from the original on 2010-11-09. Retrieved 2011-07-08.

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Chaenomeles: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

Chaenomeles is a genus of four species of deciduous spiny shrubs, usually 1–3 m tall, in the family Rosaceae. They are native to Southeast Asia. These plants are related to the quince (Cydonia oblonga) and the Chinese quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis), differing in the serrated leaves that lack fuzz, and in the flowers, borne in clusters, having deciduous sepals and styles that are connate at the base.

The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, and have a serrated margin. The flowers are 3–4.5 cm diameter, with five petals, and are usually bright orange-red, but can be white or pink; flowering is in late winter or early spring. The fruit is a pome with five carpels; it ripens in late autumn.

Chaenomeles is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the brown-tail and the leaf-miner Bucculatrix pomifoliella.

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