490 NEW ENGLAND TREES IN WINTER. 



QUINCE 



Cydonia vulgaris Pers. 

 Pyrus Cydonia L. 



HABIT A low bushy straggling rounded shrub or small tree rarely 

 exceeding 15 ft. in height with crooked distorted branches. 



BARK Dark gray, finely streaked, becoming with age more or less 

 roughened with large flaky scales. 



TWIGS Slender, dark reddish-brown, often with tinge of green; in 

 protected places and especially toward the tip of the twig generally 

 more or less densely covered with pale wool, bright-shining where 

 smooth; mostly tasteless. LENTICELS small, numerous, becoming con- 

 spicuous brownish dots on older growth. PITH narrow, greenish. 



LEAF-SCARS Alternate, more than 2-ranked, small, crescent-shaped 

 to inversely triangular, raised on a somewhat shrivelled projection 

 slightly darker than the twig and containing at its outer edges the 

 roundish, rather inconspicuous stipule-scars at either side of the leaf- 

 scar. BUNDLE-SCARS 3. 



BUDS Terminal bud absent; lateral buds minute, about 3 mm. or 

 often less in length, ovate, blunt, flattened and appressed against 

 twig; smoothish or somewhat hairy at base, with dense pale-rusty hairs 

 within showing through at apex. BUD-SCALES not easily distin- 

 guished, about 2 visible, reddish-brown to light reddish, breaking away 

 at the tip. 



FRUIT A large, firm, fleshy, downy pome. 



COMPARISONS The twigs and buds of the Quince resemble some- 

 what those of the Apple but the twigs are much more slender and 

 the buds show a distinctive tuft of rusty hairs. The bushy habit of 

 growth further will distinguish the Quince from the other cultivated 

 fruit trees. 



DISTRIBUTION A tree native of Europe, cultivated for the fruit and 

 escaped to a slight extent in some localities. 



"WOOD The wood is of no commercial importance. The fruit is 

 valued for preserving. The raw fruit and mucilaginous seed are used 

 In domestic medicinal practice. 



