English fire thorn

Pyracantha of Rosaceae. It is distributed in Fujian, Guangxi and several provinces (regions) in southwest China, and is born in mountain shrubs or river ditches.

Evergreen shrub, about 3 meters high, with short lateral branches and prickly tips. Leaves alternate, obovate, 1.5 ~ 6 cm long, 0.5 ~ 2 cm wide, obtuse or slightly concave at the apex, wedge-shaped at the base, and obtuse serrations at the edge. Compound corymbose inflorescence, white, bisexual, about 65438 0 cm in diameter; Calyx tube campanulate, 5-lobed, lobes triangular-ovate; Petals are round. Pear fruit is nearly round, about 5 mm in diameter, bright red at maturity and persistent calyx. It blooms in May, and bears fruit from June 10 to next June 10 (Figure 4-3 1). Pyracantha fortunei is cold-resistant, adaptable, light-loving, fat-loving, rough and fast-growing. As long as the drainage is good, the requirements for soil quality are not strict. Fruit is rich in sugar and starch and can be eaten fresh, brewed or ground as food. Root bark contains tannic acid, which can be used to extract baking gum. In addition, it can also be potted for viewing, and has gradually developed into an excellent bonsai tree species in recent years.

Figure 4-3 1 pyracantha

1 .cuttlefish 2. Fruit branch

(Li Jianing imitates Illustration of Chinese Higher Plants Ⅱ)

Other species in the same genus that can be used as fruit trees are: pyracantha. Pyracantha grandiflora Pyracantha, Pyracantha angustifolia. Wait.

(Lin Boda)