Eriobotrya deflexa bronze loquat

Reddish new leaves, fragrant flowers, and fallen fruit of bronze loquat near the Clock Tower (removed in 2023). Sairus Patel, 31 Mar 2020

Cheerful upright clusters of bronzy young leaves draw attention to this small evergreen tree in spring, giving it its name. The sweet fragrance of the white flowers was discernable as you biked through the former allee on Escondido Mall just south of the School of Education; that area was cleared in 2023 in preparation for construction of the new education building.

A pair of bronze loquats is in raised planters in the small fountain patio designed by Thomas Church behind Memorial Church. The densely branched crowns form a pleasant canopy under which to sit, though you may need to brush aside the fallen fruits first. These fruits are small and inedible but their slippery seeds are similar to those of the big loquat. A tree is crouched under the eaves of the northeast corner of the Bookstore. A multi-stemmed specimen is on the right at 732 Alvarado Court. Stanford’s largest specimen, with a stout pale gray bole, is on the right of the building at 810 Welch Road. Three others are next door, on the left of 900.

Name derivation: Eriobotrya – Greek erion (wool) and botrys (cluster of grapes), referring to the wooly inflorescence; deflexa – bent abruptly down.