Mespilus

Photograph by HA!

Mespilus, loquat or medlar are evergreen trees and shrubs that grow pomme like yellowish fruits.
Known to have been cultivated by the ancient Greeks and Romans, wild plants also grow in China ,Japan and South East Europe. In the US they are also known as Chinese or Japanese Plums.
There seems to be two types of plant with two distinct types of fruit, the one pictured above being more common in the Mediterranean.
The syrup is used in Chinese medicine to soothe the throat and its leaf can also be used to make tea.
Known to contain Amygdalin which is an anti cancer vitamin. Its very popular with birds and if you look at any tree you come across this time of year you will see that they will have eaten any fruits left on the higher parts of the tree.