Fauna
Plant

Quince

Cydonia oblonga

Also known as Common Quince, European Quince

Quinces produce pale pink to white five-petaled blossoms in late spring, signaling the transition into fruit production across temperate slopes and orchards. The knobby, pear-shaped pomes develop a dense greyish-white down across their golden skin, releasing an intense, floral fragrance that permeates surrounding air upon autumn ripening. In their native ranges across the Caucasus and northern Iran, these hardy deciduous trees serve as vital late-season food reserves for foraging wildlife.

DeciduousFruit BearingAromatic
Quince reference1 / 7
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
  • Codling Moth
  • European Starling
  • White-tailed Deer
ThreatsFire blight, fungal leaf spot, and land clearing
HabitatsRocky slopes, woodland margins, scrublands, and temperate orchards
Life span40–60 years
Classification
  1. OrderRosales
  2. FamilyRosaceae
  3. GenusCydonia
  4. SpeciesCydonia oblonga
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Seeds contain cyanogenic compounds toxic to humans and pets; wild fruits also carry toxic look-alike risks.
Why it is dangerous
Quince seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, specifically amygdalin, which release toxic hydrogen cyanide upon chewing or crushing.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for low, crooked trees bearing fuzzy, ovate leaves and heavy, lumpy golden pomes with persistent calyces.
What to do
Never crush or ingest seeds, and keep fallen windfall fruits away from domestic pets.
Responsible observation
  • Fragrance observation: Gently smell ripe fruits on the branch in autumn without breaking fruiting spurs.
  • Foliage check: Examine the undersides of leaves in summer to observe the velvety down distinctive of the genus.
  • Growth habit: Admire the picturesque, twisted architectural branching that develops as trees mature.
Related species
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