Appearance
''Eriobotrya japonica'' is 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 tall, but is often smaller, about 3–4 metres.The leaves are alternate, simple, 10–25 cm long, dark green, tough and leathery in texture, with a serrated margin, and densely velvety-hairy below with thick yellow-brown pubescence; the young leaves are also densely pubescent above, but this soon rubs off.
Naming
It was formerly thought to be closely related to the genus ''Mespilus'', and is still sometimes known as the Japanese medlar. It is also known as Japanese plum and Chinese plum. In Japan it is called ''biwa''. And in China, it is called ''Lo Guat'' in Cantonese and ''pipa'' in Mandarin.The name loquat derives from ''lou4 gwat1'', the Cantonese pronunciation of its old classical Chinese name.
Cultural
In Spanish the fruits are referred to as ''nísperos'' and are associated with the Day of the Dead in Mexico, when they are commonly placed on altars as offerings to the spirits of the deceased.References:
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