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AMERICAN CRAB APPLE. 

 Pyrus coronaria, Linnaeus. 



GENUS DESCRIPTION — This genus embraces about 40 species of small trees and shrubs 



which inhabit the north temperate zone. About 10 species are native to North America and 

 6 to Pennsylvania. No important timber trees are members of this genus but some of our 

 important fruit trees like the Apples and Pears belong here. Both our Common Pear and 

 Common Apple have been introduced from Europe. Some authors make a distinct genus, 

 Malus, for the Apples and another one, Sorbus, for the Mountain Ashes. Both are included 

 under Pyru.'^ in this publication. 



FORM — A small tree which may attain a height of 25 ft. with a diameter of 14 inches. Trunk 

 usually short and bearing rather slender, spreading, and crooked branches which form a rather 

 broad round- topped crown. 



BARK — Up to i of an inch thick, reddish-brown, roughened by longitudinal furrows which 

 separate low ridges often covered with scales. 



TWIGS — Rather stout, at first white-woolly, later smooth, reddish-brown, after first year 

 bearing stubby spurs or sometimes sharp spines, 



BUDS — Alternate, about i-J of an inch long, bright red, blunt-pointed or on vigorous terminal 

 shoots sharp-pointed and curved, covered with 4-8 visible scales. 



LEAVES — Alternate, simple, ovate or elliptical, 3-4 inches long, usually rounded at base, 

 sharp-pointed at apex, sharply serrate on margin, usually smooth, dark green above, paU 

 green below. Stipules long, falling early. 



LEAF-SCARS — Alternate, raised on projection of twigs, crescent-shaped; with usually 1 

 conspicuous bundle-scars. 



FLOWERS — Appear in May or June when the leaves are almost fully developed. Perfect 

 fragrant, rosy-white, about li-2 inches across, arranged in umbel-like cymes. The flower 

 as a whole resemble those of the Common Apple. 



FRUIT — Ripens about October. Pome or apple-like, borne on long slender stalks, depressei 

 globose, inches in diameter, crowned with persistent calyx lobes and filaments, yellowisl 



green, fragrant. The flesh is clear and heavily charged with bitter malic acid. Seeds chestnui 

 brown and shiny. 



WOOD — DifTuse-porou.s; rays not distinct; hard, heavy, light reddish-brown. Weighs abot 

 40 lbs. per cubic foot. Used for carving, engraving, tool handles, and some turned articles. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The American Crab Apple closely resembles 0| 

 cultivated apple only tLo leaves of the former are smoother, the flowers more brilliant rfl 

 and the fruit smaller and very bitter. The fruit often persists far into winter and does x 

 rot readily. It can be distinguished from the closely related Narrow-leaved Crab Apple (Pyj 

 angustifolia. Ait.) by its persistent calyx-lobes on the fruit, and by its ovate leaf -blades wh 

 those of the latter are usually lanceolate. 



RANGE — Ontario south through South Carolina to Alabama, west to Michigan, Missouri, aj 

 northern Louisiana. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Common in the southwestern part of the State. Loc 

 outposts reported from the central and western ports of the State. Peter Kalm, a pupil 

 Linnaeus, who traveled in America in 1753, reported this species "plentiful in Pennsylvania." 



HABITAT — Usually found in thickets and open woods where rich moist soil is presei 

 Probably occurs most frequently on little hill-tops near streams and ponds. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES — This species is of no commercial Importance as a for( 

 tree. It rarely exceeds 25 ft. in height. The fruit is used for jellies and for cider. It is a mc. 

 attractive ornamental tree on account of Its fchowy and fragrant flowers produced in gvA 

 profusion. I 



