Cydonia oblonga Mill.

Large shrub or small tree up to 5–(8) m high and several m diam. when mature; trunk short or 0 and plants sometimes forming small suckering thickets; upper branches often arching; stems dark brownish red and felted when young. Petiole (4)–6–14 mm long; blade ovate to broad-elliptic, oblong or suborbicular, 30–80 × 25–50 mm, rounded to subacute at apex, obtuse at base, white-tomentose at first on upper surface, becoming glabrate and dull, white- to grey-tomentose below; margin entire; stipules lanceolate. Fls 30–50 mm diam. Sepals densely tomentose, persistent; lobes oblong, acute, glandular, sharply reflexed. Petals oblong, 12–25 mm long, rounded or slightly emarginate. Fr. pyriform or subglobose, usually 80–150 mm long, yellow, ± finely tomentose, fragrant, with apical cavity.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Sep.–Nov.; Fruiting: Feb.–Apr.