a 'hollow' appearance to the fruit. In cultivated forms the diameter is even between . Sexual reproduction is the norm in wild forms of the medlar. The resulting seeds have a germination capacity lasting from 18 to 20 months. The seeds are distributed by various animals such as birds, squirrels and deer. Some varieties are sterile and can therefore only be propagated vegetatively. The number of chromosomes is given as 2n = 32 or 2n = 34. Taxonomy Until recently, M. germanica was the only known species of medlar. However, in 1990, a new species was discovered in North America, now named M. canescens. The loquat, Eriobotrya japonica, is more distantly related to the medlar than genera such as Crataegus, Amelanchier, Peraphyllum, and Malacomeles, but was once thought to be closely related, and is still sometimes called the 'Chinese medlar' or 'Japanese medlar'. Systematics Within the species M. germanica 23 taxa are distinguished, also compromising wild or semi-wild forms, ornamental and of different origin. Among them there are the following varieties: Mespilus germanica var. gigantea Kirchn. with very large fruits Mespilus germanica var. abortiva Kirchn. with fruits without seeds Mespilus germanica var. argenteo-variegata with white variegated leaves as ornamental plant Mespilus germanica var. aureo-variegata with yellow variegated leaves as ornamental plant Cultivars of M. germanica that are grown for their fruit include 'Hollandia', 'Nottingham', and 'Russian', the large-fruited variety 'Dutch' (also known as 'Giant' or 'Monstrous'), 'Breda giant', 'Large Russian', 'Royal' with very high yield, 'Early medlar' with early ripening and high quality fruits, 'Seedless' with seedless fruits of low quality. The cultivar 'Nottingham' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. For a time it was assumed that it was a species with narrow genetic resources and therefore subject to high risks of genetic erosion, whereby the limited evolution of M. germanica diversity was ascribed to the lack of economic interest for this fruit species in the last centuries. However, current findings show that natural populations of medlar are diverse with a high genetic potential, which could be used to improve production by using specific genotypes. Etymology The Latin name , which means 'German', although the species is indigenous to other areas. Distribution and habitat From an extensive study of literature and plant specimens, Kazimierz Browicz concluded that the true homeland of M. germanica is only in the southeastern part of the Balkan peninsula, in Asia Minor,