quince

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• quince
• Quince tree
• Common Quince

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cydonia vulgaris var. maliformis
• Pyrus cydonia var. maliformis
• Cydonia vulgaris f. lusitanica
• Pyrus cydonia var. dulcis
• Cydonia sumboshia
• Sorbus cydonia
• Pyrus cydonia
• Pyrus-cydonia cydonia
• Pyrus-cydonia cydonia lusitanica
• Pyrus sumboshia
• Pyrus cydonia var. rotunda
• Cydonia europaea
• Pyrus cydonia var. sylvestris
• Cydonia media
• Pyrus cydonia maliformis
• Cydonia communis var. lusitanica
• Cydonia minor
• Pyrus oblonga
• Pyrus cydonia var. lusitanica
• Pyrus lusitanica
• Pyrus cydonia var. major
• Pyrus cydonia var. minor
• Cydonia communis var. maliformis
• Cydonia vulgaris f. maliformis
• Cydonia oblonga subsp. integerrima
• Cydonia oblonga subsp. lusitanica
• Cydonia oblonga var. maliformis
• Cydonia oblonga subsp. maliformis
• Cydonia oblonga f. marmorata
• Cydonia oblonga var. integerrimosepala
• Cydonia oblonga var. lusitanica
• Cydonia oblonga f. lusitanica
• Cydonia vulgaris aurantia
• Cydonia vulgaris var. brusvicensis
• Cydonia vulgaris communis
• Cydonia vulgaris var. georgica
• Cydonia vulgaris var. lusitanica
• Cydonia vulgaris macrocarpa
• Cydonia vulgaris var. marmorata
• Cydonia vulgaris var. pyramidalis
• Cydonia vulgaris silvestris
• Cydonia lusitanica
• Cydonia oblonga var. obpyricarpa
• Cydonia oblonga var. obpyriformis
• Cydonia oblonga var. orbiculatocomplanata
• Cydonia maliformis
• Cydonia silvestris var. communis
• Cydonia oblonga var. ovalicarpa
• Cydonia oblonga var. ovalis
• Cydonia vulgaris var. anglica
• Cydonia oblonga var. urceolata
• Cydonia oblonga var. pyramidalis
• Cydonia silvestris var. lusitanica
• Cydonia silvestris var. maliformis
• Cydonia silvestris var. microcarpa
• Cydonia oblonga var. plano-cyclocarpa
• Cydonia oblonga var. pomiformis
• Crataegus serotina
• Cydonia oblonga f. pyramidalis
• Cydonia oblonga subsp. pyriformis
• Cydonia oblonga f. pyriformis
• Cydonia oblonga var. pyriformis
• Cydonia oblonga var. rotundata
• Cydonia oblonga var. serrulata
• Cydonia oblonga var. typica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosalales, it is further categorized into the family Rosaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is defined by the genus Cydonia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found throughout the territory of Germany. It also inhabits the landscapes of Austria and the regions of Czechia-Slovakia. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant extends into Hungary.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cydonia oblonga is characterized by its remarkable adaptability across diverse topographical gradients and terrain types. This species thrives within an expansive elevational range, extending from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to high-altitude environments reaching 3000 m AMSL. Its preferred habitats are primarily associated with forested ecosystems, where it is frequently found colonizing forest edges, suggesting a capacity to handle varying levels of light availability and transitional microclimates. Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a specific ecological affinity for limestone substrates and mountainous regions, indicating that it is well-adapted to the unique chemical compositions and rugged physical structures found in these specialized niches.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, limestone, mountains

Life history

The life history of Cydonia oblonga is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, its perennially active buds are elevated well above the ground, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit and survival strategy. Furthermore, this species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage seasonally as part of its rhythmic life cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cydonia oblonga is characterized by a woody growth form that manifests as both a tree and a shrub. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, vine, or liana. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variation in height, with a minimum height of 1.5 m, a maximum height of 8 m, and an average plant height of approximately 5.4875 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

5.4875 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cydonia oblonga is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The morphological dimensions of its foliage play a critical role in its gas exchange and light interception capabilities. The leaves exhibit a varied size distribution, with a mean leaf length of 7.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 12 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows significant variability, maintaining a mean width of 3.4 cm, with values spanning from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. These specific leaf dimensions and the underlying C3 metabolic framework govern the plant's transpiration rates and overall energy production.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.4 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Cydonia oblonga is characterized by a distinct flowering period that typically begins and concludes in May. The flowers are visually striking, featuring a pink color and dimensions ranging from a minimum width of 4 cm and length of 1.5 cm to a maximum width of 6 cm and length of 3 cm. Following pollination, the plant produces fruit that transitions to a yellow color; these fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 4 cm (ranging from 3 to 5 cm) and a mean width of 7.75 cm (ranging from 3 to 10 cm). The seeds produced within the fruit are relatively small, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.031086667 g, with individual seed weights fluctuating between a minimum of 0.02896 g and a maximum of 0.03247 g. Dispersal of the offspring is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, meaning the plant relies on animals to aid in the spreading of its seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

3 cm

Flower length min:

1.5 cm

Flower width max:

6 cm

Flower width min:

4 cm

Flowering time :

May

Fruit colour :

yellow

Fruit length max:

5 cm

Fruit length mean:

4 cm

Fruit length min:

3 cm

Fruit width max:

10 cm

Fruit width mean:

7.75 cm

Fruit width min:

3 cm

Seed mass max:

0.03247 g

Seed mass mean:

0.031086667 g

Seed mass min:

0.02896 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cydonia oblonga has 4 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root, seed.

Fruit

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf

1. The new microbiologica

Root

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Seed

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Chemicals

Cydonia oblonga has 68 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include quercetin, Flavonoids, Sugars, malic acid, p-coumaric acid.

quercetin

1. Plant methods
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of fish diseases

Flavonoids

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Journal of fish diseases

Sugars

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

malic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

p-coumaric acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

1-Propylhydrazine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

6-AH-cAMP

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

ABTS

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Aldobionic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Antioxidants

1. Journal of fish diseases

Activities

Cydonia oblonga has 356 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antiallergic, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine
4. Frontiers in pharmacology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiallergic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidepressant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. British journal of clinical pharmacology

Antitussive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of fish diseases

Cardioprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Cydonia oblonga has 13 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diarrhea, inflammation, HeLa cells, Klebsiella pneumoniae, SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Diarrhea

1. Revista de gastroenterologia del Peru : organo oficial de la Sociedad de Gastroenterologia del Peru
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Inflammation

1. Current drug delivery
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Hela cells

1. Archives of gynecology and obstetrics

Klebsiella pneumoniae

1. Inflammopharmacology

Sars-cov-2 infection

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Allergies

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antihyperlipidemic

1. British journal of clinical pharmacology

Antihypertensive

1. British journal of clinical pharmacology

Asthma

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Cancer

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Cydonia oblonga has 8 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Cydonia oblonga extract, extracts, fructus, laūq, methanolic extract.

Cydonia oblonga extract

1. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy

Extracts

1. British journal of clinical pharmacology

Fructus

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Laūq

1. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine

Methanolic extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanolic extracts of cydonia oblonga bark

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Purified fractions

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Rootstocks

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)