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The Soiilard Crab is an interesting small 

 tree resemliiin.i,' the c'oiuiiuni A|i|)k'-lrc(' in h.iliit 

 of growth. Willi bruad rounded tuj. IS Id 2.") t't. 

 in hfi-bt and trunk lO-l.-) in. in diiunctor. Thr 

 bark of trunk is of a grayish brown color cov 

 (■rod with small cdoscdy apprt'ssed scales, also 

 rc^cndding the bark of the connnon Apple-trct'. 

 It is of local distribution, being found in locali- 

 ties in the ^lississippi River valley from Min- 

 ncxita to Texas, and is considered by som<' 

 writers to be a natural hybrid between the 

 I'rairie Crab ( /'. lumsis) and the Con.unon 

 .\pple {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, ami is useful for culimiry j)urposes. 



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. 

 Sonlard of Galena. 111., after whom it has 

 been named. 



Leaves large elliptical-ovate to oval. .^-5 in. 

 long, mostly rounded or obtuse at both ends, 

 irregularly crenate-.serrate or slightly lobed. thick, 

 rugose, glabrous above, tomentoso beneath : 

 petioles stout, pubescent. Floirrrs in close wooly 

 cymes. Fruit from 1 214 in. across, flattisii 

 lengthwise with shallow basin, yellow or pink- 

 cheeked and flesh sour but edible." 



1. Syn. Malus Soulardi (Bailey) Britt. 



