Docynia indica (Wall.) Decne.

Habit

Tree

Family Description

Trees, shrubs or herbs; sometimes armed, indumentum of simple hairs (sometimes stellate in Rubus). Leaves alternate, simple or pinnately, stipules usually present. Flowers solitary or often in fascicles, racemes, cymes, corymbs or panicles, actinomorphic, bisexual, rarely unisexual. Calyx lobes, petals and stamens inserted at margin of calyx cup or tube (hypanthium). Calyx lobes 4-6, sometimes with as many outer epicalyx segments. Petals 4-6 or more, free. Stamens 4-many. Ovary of 1-many free, superior carpels or 4-6-celled, inferior or semi-inferior and united to calyx-tube; styles simple, free, sometimes united; ovules 1 or more per cell. Fruit an achene (often aggregated), follicle, drupe or pome.

Genus Description

Small deciduous trees; sometimes spiny when young. Leaves simple, sometimes lobed in young trees; stipules subulate. Flowers 1-3 at branch ends, unfolding with young leaves. Calyx tube turbinate, lobes 5. Petals 5, clawed at base. Stamens numerous. Ovary 5-celled, each cell with 3-10 ovules, styles 5-6, connate at base, ± as long as stamens. Fruit (pome) ovoid or subglobose, 5-celled usually with 3 seeds in each; calyx lobes persistent.

Species description

Tree 4-10m, branches sometimes spiny. Leaves ovate 9-15 x 3.5-6cm, acuminate, base rounded, margin entire or shallowly serrate, glabrous above, densely white tomentose beneath at first becoming greyish pubescent later; petioles 1.5-2.5cm; stipules 2-4mm decidudous. Peduncles short, thick up to 1cm. Flowers fragrant. Calyx tube 8mm, lobes lanceolate, 8-15mm, white tomentose. Petals white flushed pink 1.5-3 x 2cm, obovate. pomes 2.5-4 x 2.5cm, greenish yellow with red spots, 15-seeded.