Authors: C. Stace, R. van der Meijden (ed.) & I. de Kort (ed.)
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Scientific name:

Mespilus germanica

Vernacular name:

Medlar


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Crataemespilus(X) grandiflora

Medlar

Scientific name: Mespilus germanica L.

Diagnostic features
Shrub or tree to 9m, sometimes spiny.
Leaves 5-12cm, elliptic-oblong, pubescent.
Flowers 3-5cm across excluding sepals which project beyond petals.
Fruit subglobose, 2-3cm (to 6cm in cultivars), solitary, with persistent erect to erecto-patent sepals.

Chromosome number: (2n=34).

Habitat
Introduced-naturalized; in hedges for at least 4 centuries.

Distribution
Local in Channel Islands and South Britain, sporadic in Central & North England; Southeast Europe.

This species is keyed out on Page 2373: Mespilus and other genera in the Text Key.

Hybrids
- See Crataemespilus(X) grandiflora (Sm.) E.G. Camus (= Mespilus germanica x Crataegus laevigata).

Mespilus germanica (Medlar)
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Medlar
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