ROSACEAE 
Sweet Crab. American Crab 
Pyrus coronaria L. [Malus coronaria Mill.] 
HABIT.—Often a bushy shrub, but frequently a small tree 
15-25 feet high, with a trunk 8-12 inches in diameter; forming 
a broad, rounded crown of rigid, contorted branches bearing 
many short, spur-like branchlets. 
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-4 inches long, almost as 
broad; ovate to nearly triangular; sharply and deeply serrate, 
sometimes lobed; membranaceous; bright green above, paler be- 
neath, glabrous both sides; petioles long, slender, often with two 
dark glands near the middle. 
FLOWERS.—May, after the leaves; perfect; 114-2 inches 
across; very fragrant; borne on slender pedicels in 5-6-flowered 
umbels; calyx urn-shaped, 5-lobed, tomentose; petals 5, rose 
colored to white; stamens 10-20; ovary hairy; styles 5. 
FRUIT.—October; a depressed-globose pome, 1-114 inches 
in diameter, pale green, very fragrant, with a waxy surface. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud %-% inch long, obtuse, 
bright red; lateral buds smaller. 
BARK.—Twigs at first hoary-tomentose, becoming glabrous, 
red-brown; thin, red-brown, breaking into longitudinal fissures 
on the trunk. 
WOOD.—Heavy, rather soft, close-grained, weak, red- 
brown, with thick, yellow sapwood. 
DISTRIBUTION.—Southern portion of the Lower Pen- 
insula as far north as Roscommon County. 
HABITAT.—Rich, moist, but well-drained soil in thickets 
and along streams. 
NOTES.—An excellent ornamental tree or shrub for small 
gardens and shrubberies. The fruit is sometimes gathered for 
making preserves. 
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