Loquat

Description:

Loquat tree spotted near Hossawa Fall in Tokyo Prefecture, Japan. Loquats are a large evergreen shrub or small tree, with a rounded crown, short trunk and woolly new twigs. The tree can grow to 5–10 metres (16–33 ft) tall, but is often smaller. The fruit begins to ripen during spring to summer depending on the temperature in the area. The leaves are alternate, simple, 10–25 centimetres (4–10 in) long, dark green, tough and leathery in texture, with a serrated margin, and densely velvety-hairy below with thick yellow-brown pubescence.

Habitat:

The loquat is originally from China, where related species can be found growing in the wild. It was introduced into Japan and became naturalized there in very early times.

Notes:

Loquats are unusual among fruit trees in that the flowers appear in the autumn or early winter, and the fruits are ripe at any time from early spring to early summer.