The plant�s name has early Greek and French origins. In Greek history, the plant is said to have been a ritual offering at early Greek weddings and remained sacred to Aphrodite. The Romans are also said to have used quinces.
Cydonia oblonga grows in the warm southwest Asia and Caucasian regions. The tree may grow up to 5-8 meters in length and 4-6 meters wide and bears a pear-shaped pome fruit that may grow up to 7-12 cm in length.
Quinces are grown in large quantities in several parts of the world. The plant is self-fertile and frost free.
The plant usually prefers sandy, loamy or clayish soils. It also thrives well on moist soil conditions.
When the plant is cultivated in temperate or tropical climates, the fruit borne is soft and is suitable for eating raw. It usually grows well in woodlands and gardens. It flowers in May and the seeds ripen by November.
The seed contains about 10 per cent mucilage in the seed-coat. The pulp of the fruit contains 3 to 3.5 per cent of malic acid. The cotyledons contain about 15 per cent oil and protein and small proportions of amygdalin and emulsion or some allied ferment.
The parts of the part are used for a large number of medicinal practices. The plant parts used are mostly the flowers and fruits. The seeds may also sometimes be used for medicinal purposes.