The loquat Eriobotrya japonica, is a fruit tree in the family Rosaceae, indigenous to central China (Chongqing and Hubei province). It was formerly thought to be closely related to the genus Mespilus, and is still sometimes known as the Japanese medlar. It is also known as Japanese plum and as Chinese plum, and in China as "pipa" (枇杷).
Eriobotrya japonica is an evergreen large shrub or small tree, with a rounded crown, short trunk and woolly new twigs. The tree can grow to 5–10 metres (16–33 ft) tall, but is often smaller, about 3–4 metres (9.8–13 ft).
The leaves are alternate, simple, 10–25 cm long, dark green, tough and leathery in texture, with a serrated margin, and densely velvety-hairy below with thick yellow-brown pubescence; the young leaves are also densely pubescent above, but this soon rubs off.
Loquats are unusual among fruit trees in that the flowers appear in the autumn or early winter, and the fruits are ripe in late winter or early spring[citation needed]. The flowers are 2 cm diameter, white, with five petals, and produced in stiff panicles of three to ten flowers[citation needed]. The flowers have a sweet, heady aroma that can be smelled from a distance[citation needed].