Chinese quince

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese Quince

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chaenomeles sinensis
• Pyrus sinensis
• Cydonia chinensis
• Cydonia sinensis
• Malus communis var. sinensis
• Pyrus chinensis
• Malus sinensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosales, it falls under the family Rosaceae. Specifically, it is categorized within the genus Pseudocydonia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across several key regions in East Asia. Within China, its distribution is widespread, covering the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast territories. Moving beyond mainland China, the species can also be found throughout Eastern Asia. Specifically, it is naturally occurring in the islands of Japan. Finally, its habitat extends to include the Korean Peninsula.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Pseudocydonia sinensis is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, meaning it lives for more than two years and undergoes multiple seasonal growth cycles. As a long-lived woody plant, its development involves a sustained period of vegetative growth where it establishes a robust structural framework, followed by periodic reproductive phases. Throughout its lifecycle, the plant maintains its physiological functions over several years, contributing to its stability within its natural habitat. This perennial growth habit allows the species to accumulate biomass and resources over time, ensuring its ability to withstand environmental fluctuations and support recurring flowering and fruiting stages across successive growing seasons.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pseudocydonia sinensis is characterized by its woody growth form, which can manifest as either a shrub or a tree. This plant is a self-supporting species, categorized as independent rather than parasitic, and it functions as a terrestrial organism rather than an aquatic or epiphytic one. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variation in plant height, ranging from a minimum of 5 m to a maximum of 18 m, with an average height of approximately 7.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

7.5 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pseudocydonia sinensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its natural environment. The plant's vegetative structure exhibits specific morphological dimensions regarding its foliage, where the leaves vary in size to optimize light interception and gas exchange. The leaf length typically follows a distribution with a mean value of 6.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. Complementing these dimensions, the leaf width shows a mean of 4.5 cm, with measured widths fluctuating between a minimum of 3.5 cm and a maximum of 5.5 cm. These integrated leaf dimensions and the C3 metabolic framework underpin the plant's growth patterns and overall physiological performance.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

5.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pseudocydonia sinensis is characterized by the development of distinct floral and fruit structures that facilitate its life cycle. The flowering stage produces blooms with a length typically ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruits that vary in size, with a minimum length of 10 cm, a mean length of 12.5 cm, and a maximum length reaching up to 15 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds are produced with a highly consistent mass; both the mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass are recorded at 0.03817 g, indicating a uniform seed size during the reproductive process.

Flower length max:

3 cm

Flower length min:

2.5 cm

Fruit length max:

15 cm

Fruit length mean:

12.5 cm

Fruit length min:

10 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.03817 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pseudocydonia sinensis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Pseudocydonia sinensis has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, RUTIN, Terpenoids, GOLD, Oxylipins.

Flavonoids

1. Plant biotechnology journal
2. Archives of pharmacal research
3. Food chemistry

RUTIN

1. Plant biotechnology journal
2. Food chemistry

Terpenoids

1. Archives of pharmacal research
2. Food chemistry

GOLD

1. Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology

Oxylipins

1. Archives of pharmacal research

SILVER

1. Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology

Sugars

1. Food chemistry

caffeoylquinic acid

1. Plant biotechnology journal

p-coumaric acid

1. Archives of pharmacal research

protocatechuic acid

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Activities

Pseudocydonia sinensis has 13 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antiallergic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidiabetic.

Analgesic

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Antiallergic

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antibacterial

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Anticancer

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antihyperglycemic

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Antihyperlipidemic

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Antioxidant

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Antitumor

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Antiviral

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Conditions

Pseudocydonia sinensis has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include allergies, cancer, inflammation.

Allergies

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Cancer

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Inflammation

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Pseudocydonia sinensis has 4 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 50% ethanolic extracts from dried leaves, aqueous fruit extract, twigs of Chaenomeles sinensis, water extract.

50% ethanolic extracts from dried leaves

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Aqueous fruit extract

1. Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology

Twigs of chaenomeles sinensis

1. Lipids

Water extract

1. Archives of pharmacal research