Any ideas what this is ??

My old neighbour next door gave me this fruit (?) as he knows I like to grow things from fruit seeds etc .... he had no idea what it was although it grows in his little garden ( he is in early stages of alzheimers) and said someone had told him it was a japonica ... he no longer has the plant so I can't get a picture of it :( .... he had two of them and said he had tried one but it tasted bitter - can't believe even he would try something when he didn't know what it was !
It is the size of a small egg (hen's) .... with a bumpy surface ...
hope this picture uploads !!

Val

 

a green walnut? ... but then if so, he would have a huge tree in his yard

 

No trees in his little front yard ....

 

Your pic is not completely clear.

If a walnut it will have a green outer jacket, inside of which will be typical walnut shell. Inside this is what we eat.... the actual kernal of the walnut.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Juglans_regia_2009_G2.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/funadium/928806031/

http://www.marianinut.com/aboutwalnuts.php


May I suggest you try cutting it in half from top to bottom,(pole to pole0 and add another close up, if you are still uncertain .

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If it is Chaenomeles. Often called Quince it will have many small seeds in. See...

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=ch...art=0&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0&tx=88&ty=27


.

 

It can't be a walnut - he only has tiny front garden/yard and this bush used to be in with the hedge which is no more than 2 foot high - if I remember correctly, it used to have reddish pink flowers ..
Hope this picture is clearer - I have cut it in half and that is a 2 pence coin ...
Val

 

Thank you for the new very clear pic.
Inside are several very very small embryo seeds. The fruit was either not fertilised or was taken before it was mature.
This would rule out the walnut.

Hmm!
The speckled outer markings could be right for Chaenomeles
However with those longitudinal markings it doesn't look right for Chaenomeles!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dLSVgS5Ax...0-h/Chaenomeles+speciosa+Moerloosei+fruit.jpg

Back to the drawing board.

 

Because he said japonica , I am thinging Quince 'Chaenomeles japonica' Japanese quince ,the fruit looks a little under developed ..
Others may have other ideas ...

Dave

 

I know I've seen something like this before.

Just thinking aloud.

Passion flower??

 

I agree with you Dave..........Quince!

Pete, I don't think the skin is smooth enough for Passion flower.

 

Definitely Chaenomeles japonica, Japanese Quince. I would advise against eating it.

 

I also thought of quince myself but wasn't sure ...... and the old guy already tasted it !!!!!!!
Thanks everyone

Val

 

Yes, I have a Japonica that has fruit like this. I also have passion flower and they are a lot smoother and less hard fruit.

 

Blimey ! There was a 2p piece inside it ?!?


:WINK1: