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#1
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Medlar an unusual fruit
I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week and came across some unusual
examples. This is the bottom view of a typical fruit. They are about 4-5 cm across. You can see why it is called the 'open arse fruit'. http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...arNoLeaves.jpg Here is a strange one. As far as I can tell there are leaves growing from the fruit itself, not something you see too often. http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...dlarLeaves.jpg The same album shows the tree and flowers for those who are interested. David |
#2
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Quote:
Surely the "leaves" are the flower sepals, having an unusual persistence: just the same thing as one sees blackened around the arse end of an apple, but on a larger scale and staying green for longer. |
#3
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Medlar an unusual fruit
David Hare-Scott wrote:
I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week and came across some unusual examples. This is the bottom view of a typical fruit. They are about 4-5 cm across. You can see why it is called the 'open arse fruit'. http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...arNoLeaves.jpg interesting looking fruit. what does it taste like? Here is a strange one. As far as I can tell there are leaves growing from the fruit itself, not something you see too often. http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...dlarLeaves.jpg i've never seen the tree/flowers/fruit before, thanks for the pictures. cannot say too much about development or oddballness of this picture, but i'd say the fruit looks similar enough to apple, pear or blueberry with the bits hanging off the bottom. The same album shows the tree and flowers for those who are interested. songbird |
#4
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Medlar an unusual fruit
echinosum wrote:
'David Hare-Scott[_2_ Wrote: ;961257']I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week As far as I can tell there are leaves growing from the fruit itself, not something you see too often. I thought one generally made medlar jelly with bletted medlars, to get that particular medlar flavour, hence picking them in mid Autumn. I pick as late as possible, the leaves are falling now so there is no point in keeping them on the tree any longer. Though one recipe I saw suggested keeping the medlars in a bowl for some days to soften if they hadn't bletted on the tree. Either way, picking them now seems very early - you wouldn't pick your Bramleys now to turn into jelly would you, even if they had enlarged. No it is very late, these flowered in September. I am in Australia. This is an international newsgroup! Yes they do need to be bletted but after a cool damp summer they are not going to do it on the tree so they are sitting on a table indoors ripening. If the dogs will only stop stealing them. Surely the "leaves" are the flower sepals, having an unusual persistence: just the same thing as one sees blackened around the arse end of an apple, but on a larger scale and staying green for longer. Quite possibly. David |
#5
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Although the medlar is no longer a common or even well recognized fruit, my parents have a medlar fruit trees in their orchard and this year I was lucky enough to get enough fruit to make into a jelly. The jelly is made in exactly the same manner as quince jelly, briefly the fruit is roughly chopped and covered with water, it is then simmered for three hours, then liquid is them filtered through a cheesecloth overnight, equal amount of sugar is added and the jelly is simmered until it gels. The resulting jelly is a lovely garnet color, but the real pleasure of the jelly is it's flavor and aroma. Simply stated no other fruit comes close to approaching the depth and complexity of flavor.
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Fruit Trees |
#6
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Medlar an unusual fruit
songbird wrote:
David Hare-Scott wrote: I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week and came across some unusual examples. This is the bottom view of a typical fruit. They are about 4-5 cm across. You can see why it is called the 'open arse fruit'. http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...arNoLeaves.jpg interesting looking fruit. what does it taste like? Raw the flavour is not much, like quinces in that respect, nor is the texture or colour. Cooked it makes good jelly which can be a vibrant red colour and tastes like spicy apples. Here is a strange one. As far as I can tell there are leaves growing from the fruit itself, not something you see too often. http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...dlarLeaves.jpg i've never seen the tree/flowers/fruit before, thanks for the pictures. cannot say too much about development or oddballness of this picture, but i'd say the fruit looks similar enough to apple, pear or blueberry with the bits hanging off the bottom. They are close relatives of apples (and quinces and pears). D |
#7
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Medlar an unusual fruit
"echinosum" wrote in message
... 'David Hare-Scott[_2_ Wrote: ;961257']I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week As far as I can tell there are leaves growing from the fruit itself, not something you see too often. I thought one generally made medlar jelly with bletted medlars, to get that particular medlar flavour, hence picking them in mid Autumn. Which of course is why David is picking them NOW. It is midwinter where he and I live in the Southern Hemisphere. |
#8
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Medlar an unusual fruit
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
... songbird wrote: David Hare-Scott wrote: I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week and came across some unusual examples. This is the bottom view of a typical fruit. They are about 4-5 cm across. You can see why it is called the 'open arse fruit'. http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...arNoLeaves.jpg interesting looking fruit. what does it taste like? Raw the flavour is not much, like quinces in that respect, nor is the texture or colour. Cooked it makes good jelly which can be a vibrant red colour and tastes like spicy apples. Regardless of their taste or even usefulness (or that interestingly gritty testure), I find them a most delightful small tree - gorgeous in Spring. I had a brilliant crop this year and then the sodding parrots arrived and not a one was left. And if I have to spread yet one more piece of bird netting I think I'll spew so please don't suggest that I do that. |
#9
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Medlar an unusual fruit
Farm1 wrote:
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message ... songbird wrote: David Hare-Scott wrote: I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week and came across some unusual examples. This is the bottom view of a typical fruit. They are about 4-5 cm across. You can see why it is called the 'open arse fruit'. http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...arNoLeaves.jpg interesting looking fruit. what does it taste like? Raw the flavour is not much, like quinces in that respect, nor is the texture or colour. Cooked it makes good jelly which can be a vibrant red colour and tastes like spicy apples. Regardless of their taste or even usefulness (or that interestingly gritty testure), I find them a most delightful small tree - gorgeous in Spring. I had a brilliant crop this year and then the sodding parrots arrived and not a one was left. And if I have to spread yet one more piece of bird netting I think I'll spew so please don't suggest that I do that. Yes in spring the flowers and new leaves are nice and so they are quite a handsome tree without fruit. This can be seen in the other pictures for those who don't have access to one. D |
#10
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