Medlar (Mespilus germanica)

Edibility:Edible

Eating notes: In the British climate Medlars rarely ripen fully on the tree. They need to be 'bletted' (allowed to start rotting) before they are soft enough and sweet enough to eat raw. They can be cooked from fresh and used as you might cooking apples.

The Medlar is a rare sight in the British countryside, though it seen in some gardens and parks. There is some debate as to whether this is a truly native species or an old introduction.

Height: 4 - 6m

Leaves: Oval, alternate, slightly crinkled. White hairs beneath.

Flowers: 5-petalled with long green sepals.

Stems: Medlar trees often grow in twisted and gnarled shapes.

Fruit: Like a broad crab-apple with a russet skin and an exaggerated 5 pointed calyx at the base.