Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

In message , "David Horne,
_the_ chancellor (*)" writes
Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

In message , "David Horne,
_the_ chancellor (*)" writes
[]
I had fun trying to ID nisperos in English- as I only ever knew them by
the spanish name. It's loquat, but the Italian nespole (that's what they
were called in a market when we bought them in Rome) translates as
medlar fruit, which I don't think is the same thing- though related
IIRC?

You can think of a medlar (Mespilus) as a giant haw (Crataegus); loquats
(Eriobotrya) are also pome fruits, but so are apples, pears,
serviceberries, and quite a few other plants.

Interesting- I wonder why the 'confusion' in various language
dictionaries about this.

Googling tells me that loquats have also been known as Japanese medlars.
That's probably the source of the confusion.

Ah, interesting- thanks!

Certainly, I found an online discussion where what were clearly loquats
(in Italy) were being called medlars in English, nespole in Italian.

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