Pyracantha koidzumii Rehd.

 

Rosaceae  (Rose Family)

 

Formosa

 

Firethorn

                                        March Photo

 

Plant Characteristics:  Evergreen shrub to 2 m. high with occasional thorns and grayish pubescent branchlets which become glabrous; lvs. clustered at tips of short branchlets, oblong-obovate, 1-2 in. long, sometimes emarginate and rounded to truncate at tips and tapering at base to a short petiole; entire, becoming glabrous above and more or less pubescent beneath; fls. white, 1/4 in. or more across in a bracteate nearly glabrous inflorescence 1 in. or more across; calyx slightly pubescent with 5 triangular lobes; fr. red, depressed, globose, about 1/4 in. across.

 

Habitat: Escape from cultivation.  Blooms in the spring.

 

Name:  Pyracantha, Greek, fire and thorn, from the red frs. and spiny branches.  (Bailey 506).  The species name is in honor of Genichi Koidzumi, 1883-   , Yonezawa, Japan.  (Bailey 46).

 

General:  Uncommon in the study area, having been found only along the path between Northstar Beach and the end of Mariners Dr., 23rd St. and below the intersection of Back Bay Dr. and Eastbluff Dr.  (my comments).         The berries are made into jelly.  (ref. not recorded).       Pyracantha berries taste awful but they are not poisonous.  (Eshleman 11).      Many pyracanthas of mixed parentage are sold as P. koidzumii varieties.  (Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984 436.)

 

Text Ref:  Bailey 507, Sunset Editors 436.

Photo Ref:  Mar 4-April 1 85 #11; Jan 1 86 # 2.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.

First Found:  March 1985.

 

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 267.

Plant specimen donated to UC Riverside in 2004.

Last edit 8/8/05. 

 

 

 

                               March Photo                                                                                  December Photo