PVRUS 



291 



There is some doubt as to the origin of thTs crab. Aiton gives the date 

 of its introduction to England as 1758, and its native country as Siberia, to 

 which other authors have added N. China. But there appears to be no 

 genuine proof of its existence in either country. It has been suggested that 

 it is a hybrid between P. baccata and P. Mains. It is distinguishable from 

 P. baccata in fruit by having the calyx-lobes nearly always adhering at the 



PYRUS RINOO. 



top, although not invariably. Although longer cultivated in Britain than 

 P. baccata, it does not appear to have reached so large a size. 



Vars. DULCIS and EDULIS have sweet, greenish yellow fruits. 



Var. LUTEA. Fruit golden yellow, with a pleasantly acid juicy flesh 

 (syn. xanthocarpa). 



Var. PENDULA. Branches weeping. 



P. CERASIFERA (Malus cerasifera, Spach) is a cross between P. prunifolia 

 and P. baccata, and is a very beautiful crab. Flowers white, fruit about the 

 size of a cherry, coloured purplish red. The calyx teeth sometimes remain 

 pn the fruit, as in P. prunifolia sometimes fall away. 



