CHENGDU: In mid-March, villagers in Gudiao Village, deep in the mountains of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, were busy pumping water from the river below to water a batch of saplings they had just planted.
Malus toringoides is the species name for these trees. They bear red fruits and thrive at an altitude of about 3,000 meters. Villagers refer to them as “genque” trees.
The tender shoots of the tree can be used for tea, and their leaves for medicinal purposes.
The red fruits can also be processed into beverages and jams. –Agencies
