Mespilus canescens
Mespilus canescens was first described in 1990, was previously the German medlar as the only species of the genus of loquat ( Mespilus ). The locality of the new species was a small forest in Arkansas.
Description
Mespilus canescens is a shrub. The flowers appear in April and last about one week. The hermaphrodite flowers are fünfzählig. The five petals are orange but are slightly during drying white. There are about 20 stamens present. The fruits are red and round in shape.
Mespilus canescens is not like the German medlar diploid but forms a triple set of chromosomes ( triploidy ).
Distribution and habitat requirements
The only natural occurrence of Mespilus canescens was discovered in 1970 and comprises 25 plants in a small deciduous forest of about 9 acres in Arkansas. The area is known as the Konecny Grove Natural Area and is privately owned, but is maintained by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. The forest was surrounded by prairie, which was converted to cultivated land. Mespilus canescens growing there along with hawthorn species ( Crataegus spp.), The hackberry (Celtis laevigata ), the Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) and with piercing wind species ( Smilax spp.). Cuttings are taken in the Missouri Botanical Garden.
System
Mespilus canescens, together with the German medlar the genre of loquat ( Mespilus ). However, in 2006, presented phylogenetic analyzes lined the two species in the genus Mespilus the hawthorn, the brachyacantha along with the type Crataegus coffin. & Engelm. form a clade. Molecular genetic studies suggest that have Mespilus canescens and the German medlar common ancestor, but the genetic studies of chloroplasts show a closer relationship with the hawthorn Crataegus brachyacantha. This suggests that it is Mespilus canescens a hybrid of German medlar and Crataegus brachyacantha so is a Nothospecies. Hybridization could have been possible if the German Medlar was cultivated in the past 150 to 200 years in the vicinity of the hawthorn, which is confirmed by reports.
Evidence
- Kimberlie McCue: Mespilus canescens, Center for Plant Conservation, 2005 Weblink (English, access on September 23, 2008)