Quince (Cydonia oblonga, Gard. Dict. ed. 8.: n.° 1 (1768))

Family: Rosaceae

Author: Mill.

Bibliography: Gard. Dict. ed. 8.: n.° 1 (1768)

Year: 1768

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cydonia

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Caucasus to C. Asia

Description

Quince, scientifically known as Cydonia oblonga, is a remarkable fruit-bearing tree that belongs to the Rosaceae family. This beautiful and resilient plant has a rich history and is esteemed for its distinctive taste and versatility.

Originating from the regions stretching from the Caucasus to Central Asia, quince trees are known for their ability to thrive in a range of climatic conditions. They have been cultivated for centuries, and their use is well-documented in historical texts, including the eighth edition of the Gardener’s Dictionary, published in 1768 by Mill.

The quince tree is medium-sized, featuring oblong leaves and bearing fragrant, pinkish-white flowers that blossom in the spring. These visually appealing attributes make quince trees popular both in orchards for fruit cultivation and in gardens for ornamental purposes.

The fruit of the quince tree is perhaps its most notable feature. Resembling a cross between an apple and a pear, the quince fruit boasts a bright yellow hue when ripe and a hard, fleshy interior. Unlike apples and pears, however, quinces are typically quite tart and astringent when eaten raw. Therefore, they are more commonly used in cooking and baking, where the addition of sugar and heat transforms them into delectable preserves, jellies, and desserts with a rich, aromatic flavor.

In addition to its culinary uses, the quince has played a role in traditional medicine. It has been valued for its potential health benefits, particularly for its high content of vitamins and antioxidants. Moreover, quince seeds have been used historically in various natural remedies.

Overall, Cydonia oblonga is a plant that offers both aesthetic appeal and practical utility. Its long-standing cultivation and continued use in modern culinary and medicinal practices underscore its lasting value and versatility. Whether grown for its charming blossoms or its distinctive fruit, the quince remains a cherished plant in gardens and orchards around the world.

Common Names

Tur: ayva
Fra: cognassier, coing
Deu: echte quitte, quitte, quittenbaum
Dan: kvæde, pærekvæde, almindelig kvæde
Spa: membrillero, marmeleiro, membrillo
Eng: quince, common quince, quince tree
Mlt: sfarğel
Por: gamboeiro, marmeleiro, marmeleiro-da-europa, marmelo, pereira-do-japão
Ces: kdouloň obecná
Swe: kvitten
Rus: aiva, aiva obyknovennaia
San: amritaphala
Urd: behi
Hun: birsalma
Cym: coeden gwins coed cwins, cwinswydden
Ita: cotogno
Srp: dunja
Nor: kvede
Ell: kydoni
Jpn: marumero
Pol: pigwa
Ara: safarjal
Zho: wen po
En: Quince, Common quince, Quince tree
Ar: Safarjal
Ca: Codonyer
Zh: Wen po
Cs: Kdouloň obecná
Da: Kvæde, Pærekvæde, Almindelig kvæde
Nl: Kwee
Fr: Cognassier, Coing, Cognassier commun
De: Quitte, Quittenbaum, Echte Quitte
El: Kydoni
Hu: Birsalma
It: Cotogno, Cotogno comune, Melo cotogno
Ja: Marumero
Mt: Sfarğel
No: Kvede
Pl: Pigwa
Pt: Marmelo, Gamboeiro, Marmeleiro, Marmeleiro-da-europa, Pereira-do-japão
Ru: Ajva, Aiva, Aiva obyknovennaia
Sa: Amritaphala
Sr: Dunja
Es: Membrillero, Membrillo, Marmeleiro, Lucma
Sv: Kvitten
Tr: Ayva
Ur: Behi
Cy: Coeden Gwins Coed Cwins, Cwinswydden

Synonyms

• Cydonia cydonia subsp. lusitanica ((Mill.) Asch. & Graebn.)
• Cydonia media (Poit. & Turpin)
• Cydonia vulgaris var. macrocarpa (Lavallée)
• Cydonia oblonga f. piriformis (Rehder)
• Cydonia vulgaris var. marmorata (Dippel)
• Cydonia oblonga f. pyramidalis ((Dippel) Rehder)
• Cydonia oblonga var. rotundata (Kakhadze)
• Sorbus cydonia (Crantz)
• Cydonia communis lusitanica ((Mill.) Poir.)
• Pyrus cydonia var. rotunda (Weston)
• Pyrus cydonia oblonga ((Mill.) Kuntze)
• Pyrus cydonia var. major (Weston)
• Cydonia vulgaris var. pyramidalis (Dippel)
• Cydonia sylvestris var. lusitanica ((Mill.) Risso)
• Cydonia vulgaris var. anglica (M.Roem.)
• Cydonia oblonga var. plano-cyclocarpa (Lobachev)
• Pyrus sumboshia (Spreng.)
• Cydonia vulgaris communis ((Risso) M.Roem.)
• Cydonia oblonga var. obpyriformis (Lobachev)
• Cydonia oblonga piriformis ((Medik.) Thell.)
• Pyrus cydonia var. maliformis (Roth)
• Cydonia silvestris (Risso)
• Cydonia oblonga f. lusitanica ((Mill.) Rehder)
• Pyrus cydonia var. dulcis (Weston)
• Cydonia sumboshia (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don)
• Cydonia cydonia var. maliformis ((Mill.) Asch. & Graebn.)
• Cydonia communis var. oblonga ((Mill.) Loisel.)
• Cydonia vulgaris macrocarpa (M.Roem.)
• Cydonia oblonga var. pyramidalis ((Dippel) C.K.Schneid.)
• Crataegus serotina (Salisb.)
• Cydonia maliformis (Mill.)
• Cydonia oblonga var. pyriformis ((G.Kirchn.) Buia)
• Pyrus cydonia var. sylvestris (Duhamel ex DC.)
• Pyrus cydonia subsp. maliformis ((Mill.) Ehrh.)
• Cydonia oblonga subsp. pyriformis (Medik. ex Thell.)
• Cydonia cydonia var. pyriformis (Asch. & Graebn.)
• Cydonia vulgaris var. algeriensis (Lavallée)
• Cydonia vulgaris silvestris ((Risso) M.Roem.)
• Cydonia vulgaris f. pyriformis (Petz. & G.Kirchn.)
• Cydonia oblonga var. typica (C.K.Schneid.)
• Cydonia oblonga var. biserrulata (Kakhadze)
• Cydonia vulgaris var. brusvicensis (M.Roem.)
• Cydonia communis (Loisel.)
• Pyrus cydonia var. lusitanica ((Mill.) Weston)
• Cydonia oblonga var. orbiculatocomplanata (Lobachev)
• Pyrus cydonia var. oblonga ((Mill.) Martyn)
• Cydonia vulgaris var. lusitanica ((Mill.) DC.)
• Cydonia silvestris lustanica (Risso)
• Cydonia oblonga subsp. maliformis ((Mill.) Thell.)
• Cydonia oblonga var. integerrimosepala (Kakhadze)
• Cydonia oblonga var. lusitanica ((Mill.) C.K.Schneid.)
• Cydonia cydonia subvar. lusitanica ((Mill.) Asch. & Graebn.)
• Cydonia communis oblonga (Poir.)
• Cydonia oblonga subsp. integerrima (Lobachev)
• Cydonia communis var. maliformis ((Mill.) Loisel.)
• Cydonia silvestris microcarpa (Risso)
• Cydonia vulgaris oblonga ((Mill.) Risso)
• Cydonia oblonga f. pyriformis ((Dierb.) Rehder)
• Pyrus oblonga ((Mill.) Steud.)
• Cydonia lusitanica (Mill.)
• Pyrus cydonia var. minor (Weston)
• Pyrus-cydonia cydonia lusitanica (Weston)
• Cydonia sylvestris var. oblonga ((Mill.) Risso)
• Cydonia oblonga var. pomiformis (Lobachev)
• Cydonia vulgaris var. bourgeana (Lavallée)
• Cydonia vulgaris var. pyriformis (G.Kirchn.)
• Cydonia minor (Poit. & Turpin)
• Cydonia vulgaris var. georgica (M.Roem.)
• Cydonia oblonga f. marmorata ((Dippel) C.K.Schneid.)
• Pyrus cydonia subsp. lusitanica ((Mill.) Ehrh.)
• Cydonia silvestris communis (Risso)
• Cydonia oblonga var. ovalicarpa (Lobachev)
• Cydonia cydonia var. piriformis ((G.Kirchn.) Asch. & Graebn.)
• Cydonia oblonga var. maliformis ((Mill.) C.K.Schneid.)
• Cydonia oblonga var. piriformis (Hegi)
• Cydonia cydonia var. oblonga ((Mill.) Asch. & Graebn.)
• Cydonia cydonia var. lusitanica ((Mill.) Pers.)
• Cydonia oblonga var. obpyricarpa (Lobachev)
• Cydonia silvestris maliformis (Risso)
• Cydonia vulgaris var. maliformis ((Mill.) DC.)
• Cydonia communis var. lusitanica ((Mill.) Loisel.)
• Cydonia vulgaris var. oblonga ((Mill.) DC.)
• Pyrus maliformis ((Mill.) Steud.)
• Cydonia europaea (Savi)
• Cydonia oblonga var. serrulata (C.K.Schneid.)
• Cydonia communis maliformis ((Mill.) Poir.)
• Pyrus cydonia (L.)
• Pyrus cydonia subsp. oblonga ((Mill.) Ehrh.)
• Pyrus-cydonia cydonia (Weston)
• Pyrus cydonia maliformis ((Roth) Kuntze)
• Cydonia vulgaris pyriformis (Dierb.)
• Cydonia sylvestris var. maliformis ((Mill.) Risso)
• Cydonia vulgaris aurantia (M.Roem.)
• Cydonia oblonga var. urceolata (Lobachev)
• Cydonia vulgaris var. constantinopolitana (Lavallée)
• Cydonia piriformis (Medik. ex B.D.Jacks.)
• Cydonia cydonia ((L.) Pers.)
• Pyrus lusitanica ((Mill.) Steud.)
• Cydonia oblonga var. ovalis (Lobachev)
• Cydonia oblonga subsp. lusitanica ((Mill.) D.Rivera)
• Pyrus cydonia var. pyriformis (Roth)

Distribution

• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Albania (introduced)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Baleares (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Corse (introduced)
• Cyprus (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Hungary (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Kriti (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• Lebanon-Syria (introduced)
• Libya (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Sardegna (introduced)
• Sicilia (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Switzerland (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)
• Turkey (introduced)
• Turkey-in-Europe (introduced)
• Turkmenistan (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Yugoslavia (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Mar 28, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 28, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 28, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 28, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 1, 2018 by gaya (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jul 12, 2018 by nimye (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 9, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 19, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 14, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 14, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Sep 16, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 9, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2017 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 14, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 14, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 5, 2021 by Vladislav Sigmund (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2018 by Marcos Rivas Campoamor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 20, 2020 by David Gill (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 14, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2018 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Sep 9, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 16, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 1, 2018 by gaya (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 14, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 14, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Apr 6, 2016 by Manuel Ramos (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 2, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 29, 2022 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 27, 2016 by concha. h (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 28, 2022 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5362215)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:724549-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cydonia oblonga Mill.)

Specifications

Growth