CHAP. XLII. ROSACER.. CYDO‘NIA. 929° 
ea the XIX. 
le 
CYDO'NIA Tourn. Tae Quince Tree. Lin. Syst. Tcosandria 
Di-Pentagynia. 
Tdentification. Tourn. Inst., 632. t. 405.; Pers. Syn., 2. p. 40.; Lindl. in Lin. Sec. Trans., 13. p. 97. ; 
Dec. Prod., 2. p. 638.3; Don’s Mill., 2. p. 650. 
Synonyme. P¥rus sp. Lin. 
Derivation. From its native place, Cydon, in Candia, 
Description, §c. ow deciduous trees or shrubs, natives of Europe and 
Asia; easily prepagated by layers, er by grafting on the common thorn. 
¥ 1. C.vutea‘ris Pers. The common Quince Tree. 
Identification. Pers. Syn., 2. p. 40.; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 638. ; Don’s Mill., 2. p. 650. 
Synonymes. Py¥rus Cyddnia Lin. Sp., 687., Jacgy. Austr., t. 342. ; C. europea Sav. Alb. Tose., 1. 
p. 90. 
Engravings. Jacq. Austr., t. 342.; Sav. Alb. Tosc., 1. p.90.; and ourplate in Vol. IL. 
Spec. Char., §c. leaves ovate, obtuse at the base, entire, tomentose beneath, 
Calyx tomentose; its lobes serrulated, and a little leafy. Stamens in one 
row. A native of rocky places and hedges in the south of Eurepe. (Dec. 
Prod., il. p. 638.) 
Varieties. In warsery catalogues, and also in betanical works, there are 
generally five or six varieties designated and described; but Mr. Thompson 
has judiciously remarked that there are, in reality,only the three following:— 
* C. v. 1 pyrifirmis Hort. has the fruit pear-shaped, and may be con- 
sidered as the normal form ef the species. 
¥ C. v, 2 maliformis Hort. has the fruit apple-shaped, and requires to be 
continued by extension; because it is found that seedling plants 
from this variety and the preceding one are not quite true to their 
kinds; most frequently producing pear-shaped fruit. 
% C. v.3 lusitanica Du Ham. has broader leaves, and larger fruit, than the 
two preceding kinds; and, being of more vigorous growth, it is 
better adapted for being used as a stock for pears. It is not so 
good a bearer as either of the other two varieties; and the fruit is 
not of so deep an orange. See Horé. Soc. Cat. of Fr., 2d edit., p. 155. 
Description. The quince is a low tree, with a crooked stem, and tortwous 
rambling branches: the bark is smooth and brown, approaching to black ; the 
leaves are roundish or ovate; dusky green above, and whitish underneath. 
The flowers are large, with the petals pale red or white, and the sepals of the 
same length as the petals. The flowers are succeeded by large fruit, globular, 
oblong, or pear-shaped, ef a rich yellow or orange colour when ripe, and 
emitting a particularly strong, and to some a disagreeable, odour, somewhat of 
the nature of that of apples. According to Gerard, the fruit is hurtful to 
the head by reason of its strong smell; and it has, when eaten from the tree, 
“a kind of choking taste.” The tree is of moderately rapid growth when 
young; attaining, in four or five years, the height of 6 ft. or 8 ft.; and, in 
ten or twelve years, the height of 15 ft.: after which it continues to increase 
in width ef head only; being very seldom found higher than 15 ft. or 20 ft. 
Geography, History, §&c. The tree is supposed to have been originally a 
native of Cydon, a city in Crete, or Candia, as it is now called; but it is 
much more probable that it was only first brought into notice in that island. 
It is at present considered indigenous to the south of France, and to Germany, 
on the banks of the Danube. It is generally found in a moist soil, and in a 
situation that is somewhat shady. The quince was known to the Greeks and 
Romans, and by both nations was held in high estimation. Columella says, 
“ Quinces not only yield pleasure, but health ;” and Pliny mentions many 
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