342 FOEEST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 



MALTTS. APPLES. 



The apples foTm a group of small trees. They are of little forest importance, 

 but are of very great economic value on account of their edible fruits, which 

 include the many varieties and races of cultivated apples. They are hard, 

 dense-wooded trees, with small leaves arranged singly on the twigs (never in 

 pairs, one opposite another), and shed every autumn. Their principal distinc- 

 tive characteristic is the more or less globe-like form of the fruits, which are 

 sunken at the stem- end, as in the common crab or other cultivated apple, and 

 which have a homogeneous flesh. The chestnut-colored, smooth, shiny seeds of 

 apples are inclosed (1 to 2) in each of the 3 to 5 cells. Their near relatives, 

 the true pears (Pyrus), have fruits which taper at the stem end (pyrifonn), 

 and have flesh with minute, or large stony grains, though these are less pro- 

 nounced in highly cultivated pear fruits than in those of wild trees. 



Three tree species occur in the United States and adjacent Canadian provinces, 

 one of which inhabits the Pacific region, to which it is confined. 



Oregon Crab Apple. 

 Malus rivularis (Dougl. in Hook) Roemer. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS. 



The Oregon crab apple is a small tree, with thin, scaly, reddish — often grayish 

 brown — bark and slender, spreading branches. At best it is rarely more than 

 25 or 30 feet high and from 8 to 12 inches in diameter ; very frequently a 

 slender-stemmed shrub from 6 to 10 feet high, forming dense thickets. Year-old 

 twigs are clear shiny red. Mature leaves (figs. 160, 1G1) are veiny, thickish, 

 smooth, and deep green on their top sides, and very light green and minutely 

 hairy — sometimes whitish — beneath; leaf stems hairy. Fruit (figs. 160, 161), 

 maturing late in autumn and having a slightly acid, palatable taste, is variable 

 in color from greenish to clear lemon yellow splashed with bright red on one 

 side or red all over ; edible. Wood exceedingly fine-grained, dull, light reddish 

 brown ; sapwood very thick. Suitable for tool stock and small turnery, but 

 unimportant. 



Longevity. — Appears to grow very slowly in diameter and height. Age limits 

 not fully determined. One tree 11 inches in diameter showed an age of 102 

 years ; while one 6 inches through was 57 years old. 



RANGE. 



From the Aleutian Islands south along the coast and islands of Alaska and British 

 Columbia through western Washington and Oregon to California (Sonoma and Plumas 

 counties). 



OCCURRENCE. 



Low river bottoms and adjacent low slopes, on borders and in vicinity of smaller low 

 land streams, in moist or rather wet sandy or mucky soil. Grows in large, dense, pure 

 thickets and also scattered among red alder, willows, cascara sagrada, occasionally 

 broadleaf maple and western dogwood, and lowland shrubs. 



Climatic Conditions. — Similar to those of Sitka spruce and red alder. 



Tolerance. — iNot fully determined. Endures moderate shade throughout life, and 

 rather dense shade in youth. 



Reproduction. — Fairly abundant seeder in central and southern range and in less 

 exposed situations ; appears less prolific northward. Seed germinates tardily. Seedlings 

 frequent in moist mucky soil. 



