Loquat A Nutritious Fruit By Mr Allah Dad Khan Agriculture Expert Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province Pakistan

1. LOQUATanArticleByMr.AllahDadKhan
BotanicalName:
Eriobotrya japonica
History:
Loquat are originally native to Southeastern China but
were introduced in Japan and Indian subcontinent. So
long ago that they have been naturalized there. The
Loquat tree was widely distributed into Europe after 1712
but early records shows that it came to the United State in
the mid of 1800’s. By 1818 they were being grown in
green houses in England.
The tree were planted in National Garden in Paris in
1784 and plants were transported from Canton to London
to be planted in the Royal botanical gardens, by 1870 they
were common in california where they were planted as
ornamental small fruited trees.

2. Growth In Pakistan:
In Pakistan they grow in Punjab province and in KPK.

3. DifferentNames:
They also grow in Grecce and Turkey where they
called “Yeni Gunor” nowadays. In Pakistan they are called
“Loquat” the name comes from the canlouese, “luh” and
“kwat” which literally means “rush orange”. Loquat fruit in
the South is most commonly known as the “Japenese
Plum” but in Texas its less common name is the “Chinese
Plum”.

4. The Loquat tree when mature can grow 35 feet tall,
however, the soft wood in the limbs and trunk will
self_prune the tree to lower heights after experiencing the
heavy weight of huge fruit crops. Most plants part of the
loquat tree are covered with fuzzy little hairs except on the
trunk of the tree. Where they are replaced by smooth bark.
Fruits :
The Loquat fruit it self covered with these fuzzy little
hairs much like the fuzz on the skin of a peach. The fruit of
the loquat is bright yellow on the skin and the pulp on the
inside. Inside the pulp is a 2-3 cluster of large brown
seeds that are easily removed from the edible, interior,
tasty layer of the loquat.

5. FruitContains:
The fruit are rich in potassium ‘K’ ,Iron ‘Fe’ and
calcium ‘Ca’ which are good for humans health.
Leaves:
The leaves of a mature loquat tree vary considerably in
size. Usually ranging from six to twelve inches in length
and the dark green waxy leaves are prominently bisected
with leaf veins.

6. Used For:
it's dry leaves are used for vomiting, and to control
sugar, and the paste of the leaves are used as a medicine
for pimples and rashes.