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Forestry
Champion Trees
Common Quince Tree -
(Cydonia oblonga Mill.)
On March 3, 2000, Jim Grant, Arkansas Forestry Commission Public
Information and Education
Manager and Reggie Talley, retired Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service Agent,
measured the diameter of the trunk of this Common Quince tree in Hazen,
Arkansas. Talley had discovered this specimen while having vehicle body damage
repaired at Jim Roger's Paint and Body Shop, and it was declared an Arkansas
State Champion Tree (Exotic). This uncommon tree is reported to be 60 plus years
old and bears a bumper crop of large fruits that look like a cross between and
apple and pear. The unpalatable raw fruit, a pome, is very firm and astringent;
however, when cooked it has been used to prepare preserves or marmalade.
This unusual tree is in remarkably good shape in spite of it's
60 or so years of age. The bark of this deciduous tree is what caught my
attention at first glance in March. It has exfoliating (peeling) old bark with
smooth, silk, light brown colored new bark that looks remarkably like the bark
of a crepe myrtle. Closer examination quickly ruled that out because it flowers
in late spring, and there were the large fruits from the previous year laying
beneath it in a state of decomposition. This Champion Quince Tree has a bigness
index (B.I.) of 65. The trunk measured at 4 and 1/2 feet from the ground, is 2 feet
and 7 inches, with a height of 28 feet, and a spread or width of 26 feet and 4
inches.
This "Common Quince" (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) a highly
ornamental tree, is a member of the Rose Family (Rosaceae) and has large cupped
white or pink flowers, wooly deep green leaves beneath, developing a gnarled
form as it matures. Typically it will be about 20 feet in height and width, with
the large yellow fruit weighing as much as a pound or more. The ovate to oblong
leaves may be up to 4 inches long and the spring flowers may be up to 2 inches
across.
A native of Arabia and western Asia, the early Greeks and Romans used the
Quince as a symbol of fertility and happiness, dedicating the tree to Aphrodite
(Venus), the goddess of love. In marriage ceremonies it was used due to the
astringent properties of the fruit, in spite of or perhaps because of it's
mouth-puckering quality. History has it that the first marmalade was made with
the fruit, and the Quince first appeared in Europe around 100 A.D., as an import
from the Romans. Thomas Jefferson had the Quince introduced in his extensive
Monticello Gardens and from his garden book, an entry in 1769 itemizes his first
orchard with the following: almond, apple, apricot, cherry, fig, nectarine,
pear, quince, and walnut. The original Greek name quince was for the fruit
meaning "Cydonian apple", Cydonia being a Cretan port from which
the fruit was exported. This plant is more widely distributed and cultivated in
the temperate zones in Europe than in the United States; chiefly grown in
California and New York. The roots are used as grafting stock for dwarf fruit
trees, especially pear.
By: Reggie Talley
Retired Monroe County Extension Agent
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