Chaenomeles speciosa
Japonica, Flowering Quince, Cydonia,
Rosaceae
January to May and sporadically through the year.
It is scattered throughout the country, but is more common
in the South.
See the BSBI distribution map for Chinese Quince
It is a neophyte, which was introduced in the late
1700s and the early 1800s from S.E. Asia.
It was not recognised in the wild until the 1960s.
It is grown in gardens, parks and managed amenity areas.
The escape is found in woodland, hedgerows, scrub, rough
grassland and on waste ground
It is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 2m.
The flowers grow in clusters and are up to 5cm across.
They are bright red, orange or occasionally pink or white.
There are numerous stamens with red filaments and
creamy-yellow anthers.
There are 5 yellow styles with prominent 3-lobed
stigmas. The styles lengthen above the stamens as
the stemens fade.
The fruits turn from green to yellow in the autumn.
The fruits are used to make quince jelly, jams and
marmalade.
Leaves are oval, up to 10cm and slightly toothed.
The branches and twigs are sturdy andsometimes
have spines.
More details about the history and culimary uses of
quinces can be found on this Wikipedia link.
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Chinese Quince Ewst Dorset
Flowers showing stamens
5 scarlet petals, anthers and stigmas
Close-up of stamens - cream anthers,
red filaments
Anthers with pollen
Close-up of styles and 3-lobed stigmas
Side view of styles, stigmas and
remains of stamens
Fruit (quince)
Slightly toothed young leaves
Grey - brown twig
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