Chaenomeles cathayensis

Chaenomeles cathayensis, also known as mùguā hǎitáng or máo yè mùguā in Chinese, is a thorny deciduous shrub or tree native to China, Bhutan, and Myanmar. It can grow up to 6 meters tall and has pointed, toothed leaves that are oval to lance-shaped. The undersides of the leaves are woolly-haired when new. The plant produces pink or white bell-shaped flowers that can reach up to 4 centimeters in width. Its fruit is a fragrant yellow-red pome, measuring around 6 or 7 centimeters wide. This plant is cultivated and is a vigorous, upright shrub or small tree with spiny stems and lance-shaped mid-green leaves. The clusters of flowers, which have a pink flush, appear in early and mid-spring, followed by large, yellow-green fruit that can grow up to 15 centimeters long. Chaenomeles cathayensis is a hardy plant that can withstand frost and is suitable for various types of soil, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It prefers well-drained soil but can tolerate heavy clay soil as well. The plant can grow in semi-shade or no shade and prefers moist soil. It can also tolerate atmospheric pollution. In addition to being grown as an ornamental plant, Chaenomeles cathayensis is harvested from the wild for its use as both a food and a medicine. The fruits are often traded, particularly for medicinal purposes. However, caution must be exercised when consuming the seeds, as they likely contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can release cyanide when ingested. While small quantities of this compound have been used in traditional and conventional medicine to stimulate respiration, improve digestion, and promote well-being, larger concentrations can be extremely toxic and even fatal. The levels of toxin can be detected by the level of bitterness in the seeds. Sweet almonds, for example, contain low levels of cyanide and are safe to eat in larger quantities, whereas bitter almonds, which are used as a flavoring in foods like marzipan, contain higher levels and should only be consumed in small amounts.