I acutally spent a lot of time trying to figure out what the name of the tree was because no one that I asked in person seemed to know. I posted a picture of it on my Facebook page, and one of my Argentine friends immediately recognized it. I felt very relieved when I was finally able to identify the tree!
I found a níspero tree right next to my house, and the two others that I found were spread out in the large park near the campus. They were dispersed rather than standing together. Maybe there are others in Bahía Blanca, but I will have to search to find them.
Surprisingly, I found out that the níspero is native to the cooler regions of China and south-central China. It has been naturalized in countries like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kenya, India, New Zealand and Mexico, but it mainly grows in Japan. It has also started gorwing in various regions of South America, like Chile and Argentina! Due to its relevance in Japan, the Argentines call it níspero japonés (Japanese níspero).
In a way, the animals living in the environment of the níspero tree help it to survive. Birds and other animals spread its seeds, helping it thrive and grow in other areas.
The níspero or loquat tree is affected by a disease called "fire blight" that can harm fruits like pears and apples. I read that this the disease has hurt níspero trees in California. There is also the threat of loquat-scab, a disease in which dark, olive-colored spots begin to consume the fruit.
