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Medlar (German medlar, cup tree). Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

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Content

1. Photos, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
2. Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
3. Botanical description, reference data, useful information, illustrations
4. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology
5. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Medlar (Germanic medlar, cup tree), Mespilus germanica. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Sort by: Mespilus (Medlar)

Family: Rosaceae (Pink)

Origin: Medlar (Mespilus germanica) comes from western Asia and southeastern Europe.

Area: The common medlar is common in subtropical and temperate climatic zones of Europe and Asia. It is often grown in gardens and parks.

Chemical composition: Loquat contains numerous beneficial compounds such as flavonoids, carotenoids, tannins, vitamins (particularly vitamin C) and minerals (eg potassium). Pectin, fructose, glucose and sucrose were also found in the fruits of the medlar.

Economic value: The fruits of the medlar are used in the food industry for the preparation of jams, sweets, syrups and wine. In addition, medlar is prescribed in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as gastrointestinal problems, arthritis, and hypertension. Loquat leaves are used in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of medicines. In addition, the medlar is a popular ornamental plant due to its beautiful foliage and blooming white flowers.

Legends, myths, symbolism: In antiquity, the medlar was a symbol of fertility and abundance. She was considered a sacred plant, which was used in the rituals of worshiping the gods. In Egypt, the medlar was associated with the god Thoth, the god of wisdom and knowledge, and in ancient Greece, it was associated with the goddess Demeter, the goddess of harvest and agriculture. In the culture of many peoples, medlar was associated with wisdom, knowledge and longevity. In some cultures, its fruits were used as amulets that brought good luck and protected from negative energies. Also, the medlar has a symbolic meaning in religious traditions. In Christianity, it is considered a symbol of peace and meekness, as well as a reminder that all the fruits of the earth are a gift from God. In Islam, the medlar also has a high symbolic meaning and is associated with the ideal of perfection and prosperity.

Medlar (Germanic medlar, cup tree), Mespilus germanica. Description, illustrations of the plant

Medlar. Legends, myths, history

The medlar genus includes about 30 species, among which there are both trees and shrubs.

Only two are usually cultivated in gardens: the Caucasian medlar, which is also German (sometimes also called the common medlar) and the Japanese medlar (loqua, or eriobothria). They are so dissimilar to each other that some botanists even refer them to different genera, and in a separate genus, consisting of only one species, they distinguish the Caucasian (German) medlar.

The origin of the medlar is China, from there it migrated to Japan, and then to Europe. Even in ancient times, the plant was domesticated in Azerbaijan. Currently, in Ukraine, the Caucasus, Moldova, Central Asia, medlar is bred as an ornamental and fruit plant.

Shoots and inflorescences have a reddish-gray color from dense felt pubescence. Blooms in September - October. The flowers are white or pinkish, similar to blooming wild rose, located at the ends of the shoots. An adult plant in the spring forms pear-shaped, edible fruits, which are usually collected in brushes of 1-8 pieces. Fruits go on sale usually in April (Israel), May (Italy). They do not tolerate storage and transportation well, therefore they are unsuitable for export.

The fruits of both types of medlar can be eaten fresh, and in Japanese medlar, they taste like a cross between an apple, strawberry and apricot. In the German medlar, unripe fruits are tart, but with the first frosts they become simply sweet with a pleasant sourness, like a slightly frostbitten sweet apple. For a combination of taste and a special consistency of the pulp, they are sometimes called "jam on a branch."

One oriental legend tells how a young man lived in one Azerbaijani village. He fell in love with a rich but sickly girl. But he could not woo her, because he had neither sheep nor decent clothes, and he walked barefoot. The young man's mother could not look at his suffering. She decided to help him: she went to the garden and wanted to cut down a medlar tree in order to sell her valuable wood. But as soon as she touched the bark of a tree, she heard a groan: "Don't kill me, I'll be useful to you."

The woman did not cut down the tree. And in the spring, as soon as the fruits appeared, she collected unripe medlar berries and took them to the shoemaker so that he could make a composition for tanning leather from them, and then sewed boots for her son. From ripe fruits, she cooked a delicious marshmallow. There were so many medlars in their garden that year that they began to sell them in the market. And soon the son was able to buy himself new clothes.

Having dressed up, he went to his beloved girl, but she was sick. The young man asked the servants to give the girl juice and marshmallow. The girl tasted the goodies, she liked the taste of the medlar, she asked that they bring such a treat to her.

The young man began to come every day to his beloved and bring her medlar. Soon the girl felt a surge of strength, she no longer wanted to lie on the mat all day. She began to go out into the street, meet with a young man.

In his new clothes and high boots, he was so handsome that the girl also fell in love. She told her parents that she agreed to marry the young man. And soon they played a wedding, at which the wine from the medlar flowed like a river.

Author: Martyanova L.M.

Medlar (Germanic medlar, cup tree), Mespilus germanica. Botanical description of the plant, area, methods of application, cultivation

This plant is often confused with the Japanese medlar, or eriobotrya (Eriobotrya japonica), a similar but evergreen tree native to China (Himalayas) and Japan, which produces much tastier, edible fresh, slightly hairy fruits.

The Russian name medlar is a borrowing from the Turkish language (musmula), which, in turn, came from the Greek movomovlo, where the fruit is called that, and the plant itself is Movomovlia. The specific name of this medlar is due to the fact that the cultural cultivation of this plant began from Germany, where the medlar was brought by the Romans from the region of its natural growth - South-Eastern Europe.

A deciduous tree or shrub (unlike the evergreen Japanese medlar belonging to the genus Eriobotrya) which, under ideal (frost-free) conditions, grows up to 8 m, but more often it is much lower (2-4 m). The branches are prickly, the leaves are simple (solid), elliptical, entire or finely serrated along the edge, 8-15 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, dark green in summer, but in autumn, before falling, they change color to red. Flowers solitary, 3-5 cm in diameter, five-petalled, white with red stamens. Flowering in late spring, throughout May (unlike Japanese loquat, which blooms from September to March).

Fruits with a diameter of 1,5-2,5 cm, up to 7 cm long, round or apple-shaped, yellowish-brown, brown, reddish-brown, almost naked (unlike the slightly pubescent fruits of the Japanese medlar), with unfolded permanent sepals, giving fruit hollow appearance. The pulp is brown, refreshing, sweet-sour, contains 4-5 seeds (seeds) of a flattened-spherical shape.

The fruits of the Caucasian medlar are suitable for eating only after freezing or long-term storage (as opposed to fresh edible Japanese medlar), as a result of their fermentation. At the same time, they become sweet and soft, but acquire a wrinkled structure, pasty consistency and decrease in volume. In some areas, the fruits are not harvested until the first frosts, and after freezing and thawing, the fruits become soft and sweet, pleasant to the taste. The pulp, like most pear species, contains stony cells.

Germanic medlar naturally grows in Southeast Europe (Balkan countries) and Southwest Asia (Turkey, Iran, Transcaucasia), which are the original area of ​​​​its distribution. It occurs wild in western Ukraine, in Moldova, on the southern coast of Crimea, in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, South Ossetia and the North Caucasus. Solitary plants are found in horticultural plantations in the central regions of Ukraine (for example, in the city of Uman, where the plant was brought as a low-growing pear rootstock).

Medlar prefers sunny, dry places and slightly acidic soil. In North Africa, it is very common in the gardens of colonial-era houses and in the suburbs of large cities.

The fruits of the German medlar contain up to 17% sugars, organic acids (malic, citric, tartaric) - 0,2-0,9%, a lot of vitamin C. Vitamins A, PP, ascorbic acid and almost the entire set of vitamins of the group are synthesized in its fruits. B. In terms of the number of microelements, iron holds the lead (0,28 g per 100 g), followed by descending manganese (0.148 g), zinc (0.05 g) and copper (0.04 g), as well as selenium (0.6 mcg). The content of potassium (266 mg) is more than 250 times higher than the concentration of sodium (only 1 mg).

The calorie content of medlar is about 2 times lower than that of persimmon fruits - about 54 kcal per 100 g of product. The sources of energy value are proteins, the content of which reaches 2%, fats - 0,8% and carbohydrates - about 14%. It is easy to calculate that the caloric content of the product depends precisely on the amount of carbohydrates (fructose, glucose), which provide approximately 40 kcal per 100 g of fruit.

The fruits of the Caucasian medlar become edible only after the pulp acquires a pasty consistency as a result of the action of special enzymes. For this, fruits, like rotten pears, are placed in a warm room for ripening. In England, earlier, a sauce was prepared from the fruits of the German medlar, which was served with game.

The fruits of the German medlar have an antidiarrheal, antidysenteric, protein metabolism-improving effect. They have a positive effect on the endocrine glands, especially with their hypofunction. Organic acids of German medlar have a beneficial effect on the liver, blood vessels, and nervous system.

Fresh fruits of the Caucasian medlar, peeled and pitted, as well as their decoctions, are used for dysentery. A decoction of the fruit is used for rinsing with sore throat.

Unripe fruits should not be used in cases of constipation. You should not abuse the fruits of medlar in case of gastrointestinal diseases against the background of high acidity, since the organic acids that make up their composition can cause unwanted reactions. Particular care should be taken in the presence of gastritis, gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer against the background of high acidity. In all of these cases, the best decision is to consult your doctor.

At the beginning of ripening, a large amount of tannins accumulate in the medlar fruits, therefore, such fruits have an astringent effect, which means that they can be used for diarrhea. After the medlar ripens, tannins are destroyed, so ripe fruits have a delicate laxative effect, and therefore are useful for constipation.

Organic acids in combination with vitamins, which are rich in medlar fruits, have a beneficial effect on liver tissue, nerve fibers and blood vessels.

Potassium is an excellent fuel for the heart muscle. Vitamin PP, similar in structure to flavonoids, helps to increase the elasticity of blood vessels and strengthen capillaries, which in turn serves as a prevention of strokes and heart attacks.

One of the unique features of the medlar fruit is its effect on the endocrine glands, and this effect is most noticeable during hypofunction, that is, when their secretory activity is noticeably reduced for any reason.

Often, the fruits of the medlar are used to make diets during a course of therapeutic starvation.

The German medlar has been cultivated for 3000 years in the Caspian regions of Azerbaijan. It began to be grown by the ancient Greeks around 700 BC. e. and the ancient Romans around 200 BC. e. In the ancient Roman and medieval eras, this plant was the most important fruit crop. However, in the 17-18 centuries. interest in it gradually faded, and it was replaced by other cultures, and is currently cultivated quite rarely.

Medlar ordinary. Useful information about the plant

Shrub 3-7 m high with large lanceolate leaves of the rose family. Homeland - Western China. Cultivated in the Crimea and the Caucasus.

The fruit is a false drupe about 4 cm long with five seeds, pear-shaped, yellow, juicy. Fruits contain sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose), organic acids (citric, malic). Phytoncides and tannins were found in leaves and fruits.

The fruits have a pleasant sour-wine taste. They are tastier when frozen and fully ripe, long lying. Suitable for making jam, confectionery and as a dessert. The seeds make a good liquor. Leaves and fruits have astringent properties, their decoction was used in folk medicine for diarrhea; an aqueous infusion of the leaves was used to gargle with a sore throat.

Authors: Dudnichenko L.G., Krivenko V.V.

Medlar (Germanic medlar, cup tree), Mespilus germanica. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology

Ethnoscience:

• Treatment of gastrointestinal problems: medlar can help improve digestion, relieve constipation and dyspepsia. To do this, eat fresh medlar or prepare an infusion of dried medlar fruits (1 tablespoon of dry fruits per 200 ml of boiling water). Drink the infusion warm 2-3 times a day.
• Treatment of colds: Loquat contains vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system and fight off colds. To do this, eat fresh medlar or prepare an infusion of dried medlar fruits (1 tablespoon of dry fruits per 200 ml of boiling water). Add honey to improve the taste. Drink the infusion warm 2-3 times a day.
• Treatment for heart problems: medlar can help improve heart function. To do this, eat fresh medlar or prepare an infusion of dried medlar fruits (1 tablespoon of dry fruits per 200 ml of boiling water). Drink the infusion warm 2-3 times a day.
• Treatment for skin problems: medlar can help improve skin condition due to the content of vitamins C and E. To do this, prepare an infusion of dried medlar fruits (1 tablespoon of dried fruits per 200 ml of boiling water), let the infusion cool, then use it to wipe the skin of the face.
• Headache treatment: medlar can help relieve headaches. To do this, prepare an infusion of dried medlar fruits (1 tablespoon of dried fruits per 200 ml of boiling water), let the infusion cool, then apply to the temples and forehead, massage lightly. This will help relieve tension and reduce headaches.
• Treatment of skin diseases: Loquat may help reduce the symptoms of skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. To do this, prepare an infusion of dried medlar fruits (1 tablespoon of dried fruits per 200 ml of boiling water), let the infusion cool, then use it to wipe the affected skin.
• Strengthening teeth and gums: Loquat may help strengthen teeth and gums due to its antiseptic properties. To do this, eat fresh medlar or prepare an infusion of dried medlar fruits (1 tablespoon of dry fruits per 200 ml of boiling water). Rinse your mouth with this infusion after eating.

Cosmetology:

• Medlar for skin care: for facial skin care, you can use loquat cream. To prepare it, you need to take a few ripe medlars, mash them to a puree state, add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and mix until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Apply the cream to your face in the morning and evening.
• Medlar to strengthen hair: loquat can strengthen hair and stimulate hair growth. To prepare a medlar hair mask, you need to take a few ripe medlars, mash them to a puree state, add 1 tablespoon of honey and mix until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Apply to hair and leave for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
• Medlar to strengthen nails: loquat can help strengthen nails and moisturize cuticles. To prepare a medlar bath for hands, you need to take a few ripe medlars, mash them to a puree state, add 1 tablespoon of milk and mix until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Add the resulting mass to warm water and dip your hands in it for 10-15 minutes.
• Loquat to fight wrinkles: medlar contains antioxidants that help fight wrinkles. To prepare a medlar face mask, you need to take a few ripe medlars, mash them to a puree, add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and mix until smooth. Apply the mask on your face for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Attention! Before use, consult with a specialist!

Medlar (Germanic medlar, cup tree), Mespilus germanica. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Medlar (Mespilus germanica) is a fruit tree that can be grown in the garden or in the country.

Tips for growing, harvesting and storing medlar:

Cultivation:

• Site and Soil Selection: Loquat prefers well-drained soils with a neutral to slightly acidic pH (6,0-7,0). It can also grow on clay soils, but in this case it is necessary to provide a good drainage system. The plant is best grown in full sun or partial shade.
• Landing: Medlar is planted in the autumn, after fallen leaves, or in the spring, before the buds appear. The depth of planting depends on the size of the seedling: the root neck should be at the level of the soil or slightly higher. The distance between plants depends on the size of the adult tree. For small trees, a distance of 2-3 m is recommended, for larger trees - 4-5 m.
• Plant care: Loquat does not require special care, but it is necessary to provide it with enough water and nutrients. After planting, it is necessary to water the plant regularly, especially during the heat period. It is not recommended to oversaturate the soil with moisture, as this can lead to root rot.
• Pruning: The plant needs to form a crown and strengthen the trunk. It is recommended to carry out formative pruning in early spring before the start of active growth. Also, to strengthen the trunk, it is recommended to carry out formative pruning, removing all shoots except one.

Workpiece:

• Ripe medlar fruits are harvested in late September - early October.
• Peel the fruit from the peel, cut and remove the seeds. Only pulp can be used.
• You can dry medlar or use it to make compotes, jams, marmalade, jelly and preserves.

Storage:

• Medlar does not keep fresh for a long time, as it quickly loses its shape and juiciness.
• Fresh fruit can be stored in the refrigerator for several days.
• Dried or processed medlar fruit can be stored in a cool and dry place for several months.

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