Rhaphiolepis bibas (Nespol or Mespilia)

Origin and Distribution

Rhaphiolepis bibas, commonly known as Nespol or Mespilia, is a plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. It is native to China and Japan, where it has been cultivated for centuries.

History of Introduction and Cultivation

The plant was introduced to the Mediterranean region at the end of the 17th century, but its cultivation became more widespread in the mid-18th century. In Greece, there has been a recent resurgence of interest in cultivating Nespol due to the scarcity of fresh fruit during certain times of the year.

Common Names and Cultivation

Nespol is known by various names in different regions, including mousses or mespiles (Peloponnesus), nespolia or nospolia (Kerkria), Miss (Kritis), and Mespilia (Cyprus). In Greece, there are approximately 7,500 scattered trees and around 500 acres of normal plantations (Lionakis, 2008).

Fruit and Uses

The fruit of the Nespol tree is cultivated for both commercial purposes and as an ornamental. It should not be confused with the European hawthorn (Crataegus), which is a different species within the Rosaceae family.

In China, the fruit is known as pipa or pipa guo, referencing its resemblance to the traditional musical instrument, the pipa. The Japanese call it biwa, and in Japan, it has been cultivated for centuries with various selections of varieties.

Varieties

In China, there are numerous varieties of Nespol, ranging from small fruits with less commercial interest to larger sizes. In Japan, different varieties have been selected over time, often for fruit production.

References

Galasso, G., & Banfi, E. (2020). Rhaphiolepis bibas (Lour.) Galasso & Banfi. Lionakis, M. (2008). State of cultivation in Greece.