The medlar tree ( Mespilus germanica L.), sometimes called mêlier or mesplier, is small a Arbre of the family of the Rosacée S (tribe of the Crataegeae ), sometimes cultivated, especially in the south-east of Europe, for its fruits, the Nèfle S.

History

In spite of its Latin name, the medlar tree is not originating in Germany but of minor Asia or it is cultivated since the year 1000 av. JC. It was brought back in Europe by the Romans and appears then among the species recommended by Charlemagne in the Capitulaire De Villis.

Description

It is a shrub or a small tree with spread out enough port, from 5 to 6 m in height, with trunk and branches tortuous and presenting a scaly bark.

The Sheet S simple, alternate, of elliptic form, slightly acute at the top, and are irregularly notched. Of pale color green, it are glabrous with their higher face and a little tomenteuses in lower part.

The white Fleur S are 3 cm in diameter approximately. They appear tardily, towards the end of May.

The Fruit S, from 2 to 3 cm in diameter (4 to 6 cm at the varieties with large fruits), have a form of small Poire, or flattened Toupie, and carry the persistent Sépale S at their top. On the botanical level, this fruit is false a Drupe, similar to the Pomme S, pears, quinces. Indeed the fleshy part results primarily from the development of the floral receptacle which completely wraps with maturity the five Carpelle S and pushing back at its top the persistent sepals.

Distribution

The species is spontaneous in Asia Western and central (Turkey, the Caucasus, Iran, Iraq, Turkménistan) like in Europe of south-east (the Crimea, Bulgaria Greece, Italy). It is also cultivated and naturalized in the majority of the moderate countries. The medlar tree is rather common in Belgium and France, except in the Mediterranean region.

Culture

Not very demanding species as for the ground, it fears the excess of moisture however. Very rustic, it supports strong frosts, in lower parts of - 20 °C, and asks little heat to mature its fruits.

The medlar tree is generally cultivated in half standard. The Understocks S usable, according to the conditions of ground, are the Poirier frankly, the Cognassier, the sorb or the Aubépine. Oddly, the Clerc's Office develops better on hawthorn (Crataegus oxyantha) that on sowings of medlar tree.

The harvest of the fruits intervenes rather late, generally in October, after the first cold ones. The fruits must be preserved several weeks in an aired room, until the softening or overripeness of the pulp which makes them consumable.

The medlar tree is sensitive to the bacterial Feu.

Propagation

The natural Germination of the Graine S contained in the Osselet S is slow and capricious because of their rather hard and impermeable envelope. It requires at least two winters of Stratification to soften. Moreover, the Cultivar S are not accurately reproduced.

The professional propagators soak seeds a few moments in the sulphuric Acid to accelerate to them Germination. The amateurs can more simply scarify the brown tegument slightly then to let soak 8 to 10 days the seeds in a water bowl. One can then sow and the seeds generally raise in the month which follows.

Use

The medlar tree is cultivated like Fruit tree (see Nèfle).

The Wood of medlar tree to a very fine grain and can be polished. It is dense and is split little, qualities which made it seek for the handles of tools and plagues. With the Pays Basque manufactures a stick of walk ornamented called Makhila.

It is sometimes cultivated like ornamental tree.

See too

• Medlar tree of Japan or wild bibacier
• Medlar tree, the shadbush

External bond

• Mespilus germanica “Monstrous of Evreinoff”: A cultivar contrasted
• Medlar tree and Makhila (profile of wood, etc)

References

• Tela Botanica

Random links:

Studio 4°C | Quanzhou | Ellsworth Kelly | Mohammed Bedjaoui | François-Xavier Octavie Fountain