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AMERICAN CRAB APPLE. 

 Pyrus coronaria, Linnaeus. 



GENUS DESCRIPTION This genus embraces about 40 species of small trees and shrubs 

 which inhabit the north temperate zone. About 10 species are native to North America and 

 6 to Pennsylvania. No important timber trees are members of this genus but some of our 

 important fruit trees like the Apples and Pears belong here. Both our Common Pear and 

 Common Apple have been introduced from Europe. Some authors make a distinct genus, 

 Malus, for the Apples and another one, Sorbus, for the Mountain Ashes. Both are included 

 under Pyrus in this publication. 



FORM A small tree which may attain a height of 25 ft. with a diameter of 14 inches. Trunk 

 usually short and bearing rather slender, spreading, and crooked branches which form a rather 

 broad round- topped crown. 



BARK Up to 5 of nn inch thick, reddish-brown, roughened by longitudinal furrows which 

 separate low ridges often covered with scales. 



TWIGS Rather stout, at first white-woolly, later smooth, reddish-brown, after first year 

 bearing stubby spurs or sometimes sharp spines. 



BUDS Alternate, about I-} of an inch long, bright red, blunt-pointed or on vigorous terminal 

 shoots sharp-pointed and curved, covered with 4-8 visible scales. 



LEAVES Alternate, simple, ovate or elliptical, 3-4 inches long, usually rounded at base, 

 sharp-pointed at apex, sharply serrate on margin, usually smooth, dark green above, pale 

 green below. Stipules long, falling early. 



LEAF-SCARS Alternate, raised on projection of twigs, crescent-shaped; with usually 3 

 conspicuous bundle-scars. 



FLOWERS Appear in May or June when the leaves are almost fully developed. Perfect, 

 fragrant, rosy-white, about li-2 inches across, arranged in umbel-like cymes. The flowers 

 as a whole resemble those of the Common Apple. 



FRUIT Ripens about October. Pome or apple-like, borne on long slender stalks, depressed- 

 globose, 1-1| Inches in diameter, crowned with persistent calyx lobes and filaments, yellowish- 

 green, fragrant. The flesh Is clear and heavily charged with' bitter malic acid. Seeds chestnut- 

 brown and shiny. 



WOOD Diffuse-porous; rays not distinct; hard, heavy, light reddish-brown. Weighs about 

 40 Ibs. per cubic foot. Used for carving, engraving, tool handles, and eome turned articles. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The American Crab Apple closely resembles our 

 cultivated apple only tLc- leaves of the former are smoother, the flowers more brilliant red, 

 and tbe fruit smaller and very bitter. The fruit often persists far Into winter and does not 

 rot readily. It can be distinguished from the closely related Narrow-leaved Crab Apple (Pyrus 

 angustifolia, Ait.) by Its persistent calyx-lobes on the fruit, and by its ovate leaf -blades while 

 those of the. latter are usually lanceolate. 



RANGE Ontario south through South Carolina to Alabama, west to Michigan, Missouri, and 

 northern Louisiana. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Common in the southwestern part of the' State. Local 

 outposts reported from the central and western parts of the State. Peter Kalm, a pupil of 

 Linnaeus, who travele-l ia America in 1753, reported this species "plentiful in Pennsylvania." 



HABITAT Usually found in thickets and open woods where rich moist soil is present. 

 Probably occurs most frequently on little hill-tops near streams and ponds. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES This species is of no commercial importance as a forest 

 tree. It rarely exceeds 25 ft. in height. The fruit is used for Jellies and for cider. It is a most 

 attractive ornamental tree on account of its j-howy and fragrant flowers produced in great 

 profusion. 



