Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.

Tree up to 8 m high when mature;  trunk well developed;  primary stems erect;  secondary stems spreading;  young stems stout, white-tomentose; older stems with prominent lf scars, becoming greyish brown and transversely calloused.  Lvs near branch tips;  petiole  c. 15 mm long, stout;  blade oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 150–350–(400) × 75–100–(130) mm, acute, tapering to cuneate or slightly auriculate base, very coriaceous, ± rugose, dark green and glossy above, thinly grey- or brown-tomentose below (very young lvs completely brown-tomentose), serrate at least in upper 1/2 (sometimes obscurely);  stipules long-triangular, ± attenuate, pilose.  Infl. of many fls;  pedicels 5–8 mm long, brownish tomentose.  Sepals fused for most of length;  lobes 2–4 mm long, brown-tomentose.  Petals white or ivory, oblong,  c. 7–8 × 3–4 mm, shallowly emarginate.  Fr. pyriform to broadly ellipsoid-oblong or subglobose, up to 50 × 35 mm;  skin yellow, ± tomentose;  flesh sweet.

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

Flowering: Apr.–Aug.–(Nov.); Fruiting: Oct.–Dec.