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Plants

Docynia indica

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Docynia genus in the family Rosaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Docynia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit[1][3][7]. The fully ripe fruit is edible[7]. It is eaten when half ripe[4]. The fruit is about 5cm in diameter[5].

Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - hard, close and even grained[3].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China to the Himalayas.
Habitat
Open places to elevations of 2000 metres in Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan[3][7]. Slopes, streamsides and thickets at elevations of 2000--3000 metres in western China[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame[5]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained soil in a sunny position[5]. This species is only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5 to -10°c[2][5]. There is some doubt as to whether this species is distinct from D. delavayi[2]. This genus is closely related to the quince, Cydonia oblonga[5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  7. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

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