ellen wickberg wrote:
> George Shirley wrote:
>
>> David Hare-Scott wrote:
>>
>>> "Nobody" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>
>>>> There is a tree known as "loquat" that was widely planted in California
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> for
>>>
>>>> decorative purposes over the past century or more. It is a kind of
>>>> medlar,
>>>> and bears one of my favorite fruits. When I was growing up in southern
>>>> California it was widely used for jam and pies, although I only ate it
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> raw.
>>>
>>>> It has a wonderful taste, sort of a cross between a peach and an
>>>> orange.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> You
>>>
>>>> are very lucky to have a regular supply.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> We are not talking about the same fruit. Medlars are about the size
>>> of a
>>> golf ball, with a brown skin a bit like a pear but thicker, the end
>>> opposite
>>> the stem has a strange rounded depression with a fringe around it, in
>>> some
>>> old books they were called the "open arse fruit". When underipe
>>> the flesh
>>> is cream and woody like a quince but when ripened (bletted) it goes
>>> brown
>>> and soft. The flavour is most like a spicy (some say cinnamon) overripe
>>> apple. Neither the flavour nor the texture are like peaches or oranges.
>>>
>>> Apparently the loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is sometimes called the
>>> Japanese
>>> medlar and it is distantly related to the medlar (Mispilus
>>> germanica). I
>>> have tried to grow the loquat but so far withour success, it does not
>>> like
>>> frost.
>>>
>>> David
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> If anyone is going to try a loquat they need to get a named variety. I
>> grew one from seed here in SW Louisiana and it was a sorry producer.
>> Plus with one very large seed they are a pain to handle and to make
>> jam or jelly from. Also have a tough seed. Luckily Hurrican Rita
>> killed mine and I can replace it with something else.
>>
>> George
>>
> The loquats with which I grew up, in Southern and Northern California,
> have about 3 seeds which fit together. I have never seen a loquat with
> one seed. Different kind?
> Ellen

Yeah, there evidently are several varieties. There is one down by the
city pavilion or bandstand that is about 25 feet tall and absolutely
covered with fruit most of the time. I harvest a bucket full every once
in awhile and it is the three seed variety whereas mine only ever had
one large seed. I like the taste of loquat jam but it is a pain to make.

George