Chaenomeles is a genus of three species of deciduous spiny shrubs, usually 1–3 m tall, in the family Rosaceae. They are native to Japan, Korea, China, Bhutan, and Burma. The shape of the Quince resembles a longer apple (or a squat pear) and its colour is gold-yellow.
Chaenomeles japonica is a species of Japanese quince. It is shorter than another commonly cultivated species C. speciosa, growing to only about 1 m in height. The fruit is called Kusa-boke (草木瓜) in Japanese. It is best known for its colorful spring flowers of red, white, pink or multi colors. It produces apple-shaped fruit that are a golden-yellow color containing red-brown seeds.
Quince is a rather unusual fruit that is closely related to apples and pears. Its scientific name is Cydonia oblonga. It is the only member of its genus Cydonia. The quince tree is deciduous and rather small, while the valuable ripened fruit is yellowish-gold color and somewhat similar to pears in shape and consistency.
