lIA^M)HOOK OF TkKES OF THE NoRTIIEKISr StATES AND CaN. 



2P/ 



The Soulard Crab is an interesting small 

 tree resembling the coiiinion Apple-tree in habit 

 of growth, witli bruad rounded top 18 to 2.") ft. 

 ill ln'iiiht anil trunk 10-15 in. in diameter. Tiu' 

 bark of trunk is of a gra3is]i brown color cov- 

 ered with small ek)sely appressed scales, also 

 rcsciubliiig tlio t)ark of the common Ajiple-tree. 

 It is of local distribution, being found in loc.ili 

 ties in the Mississippi River valley from .Miii 

 nesota to Texas, and is considered by soiin' 

 writers to be a natural hybrid between the 

 l*rairie Crab [I\ lociisis) and tl.e Co-vnoi 

 Apple (P. Mains), as it is found only in 

 regions where both those trees abound and it 

 presents characters intermediate between them. 

 Its fruit is fairly edible, to one fond of tart 

 apples, and is useful for culinary purposes. 



Its great hardiness commends it for culti- 

 vation in the upper Mississippi valley where 

 the climate is too rigorous for the more ten 

 der varieties of apples, and there a few named 

 varieties are grown. It is said to have been 

 first introduced into cultivation by James S. 

 Soulard of Galena, 111., after whom it has 

 been named. 



Leaves largo olliptical-ovate to oval, rj-." in. 

 long, mostly rounded or obtuse at both ends, 

 irregularly crenate-serrate or slightly lobed, thick, 

 rugose, glabrous above, tomentose beneath : 

 pftioles stout, pubescent. Floirers in close wooly 

 cymes. Fruit from 1 2i/i in. across, fiattisii 

 lengthwise with shallow hasin, yellow or pink- 

 cheeked and flesh sour hut edible. 



Syn. Mnliis Soiilardi (Bailey) Britt 



