Handbook of Teees of the Xoetheex States axu ('a? 



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The Soulard Crab is an interesting small 

 tree resembling the eomiiioii Apple-tree in habit 

 of growth, witli broad rounded top 18 to 25 ft. 

 in height and trunk 10-15 in. in diameter. The 

 bark of trvmk is of a grayish brown color cov- 

 ered with small closely appriessed scales, also 

 resembling the bark of the common Apple-tree, 

 it is of local distribution, being found in locali- 

 ties in the Mississippi River valley from Min- 

 nesota to Texas, and is considered by some 

 writers to be a natural hybrid between the 

 Prairie Crab [P. loensis) and the Common 

 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 wliere 

 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 large elliptical-ovate to oval. P>-Ci in. 

 long, mostly rounded or obtuse at both ends, 

 irregularly crenate-serrate or slightly lobed, thiol\. 

 rugose, glabrous above, tomentoso beneath : 

 petioles stout, pubescent. FJoirets in close wooly 

 cymes. Fntit from 1-2V> in. across, flattish 

 lengthwise with shallow basin, yellow or pinli- 

 cheeked and flesh sour but edible. 



1. Syn. Mains SoulariU (Bailey) Britt. 



