The loquat (Eriobotrya japonica; from Cantonese ChineseJyutping is a species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae, a native to the cooler hill regions of China to south-central China. It is also quite common in Japan, Korea, hilly Regions of India (Himachal), Potohar and foothill regions of Pakistan and some can be found in some Northern part of the Philippines, and hill country in Sri Lanka. It can also be found in some southern European countries such as Turkey, Cyprus, Malta, Italy, Spain and Portugal; and several Middle Eastern countries including Morocco Algeria, Syria, Iraq, Israel and Lebanon. It is a large evergreen shrub or tree, grown commercially for its yellow fruit, and also cultivated as an ornamental plant.