Jiangling Loquats

Jiangling Loquats

　　 Loquat is a perennial evergreen tree that flowers and bears fruit in the autumn of the previous year, with the fruits ripening in May of the following year. The fruits are spherical and golden yellow, sweet with a slight tartness, and each contains one to three pits. Both the leaves and the fruits can be used in traditional Chinese medicine, making loquat one of the specialties of Jiangling. In 1986, it was designated as the city tree of Jiangling. Many residential homes have loquat trees planted in their front and back yards, earning the area the reputation of being the "hometown of loquats."