File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11 (1901) (19881946673).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11pennx (find matches)
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forestry
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department : WM. Stanley Ray, state printer of Pennsylvania
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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178 AMERICAN CRAB APPLE Pyrus coronaria, Linnaeus GENUS DESCRIPTION—This genus embraces about 40 species of small trees and slirubs which inhabit the north temperate zone. About 10 species are native to North America and 6 to Pennsylvania. No Important tlraber 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 Pyrus 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 ) 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. BTJDS—Alternate, about ;-i of an inch long, bright red, blunt-pointed or, on vigorous terminal shoots, sharp-pointed and curved, covered \»1th 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, pale green below. Stipules long, falling early. LEAF-SOARS—Alternate, raised on projection of twigs, cresent-shaped; with usually 3 con- spicuous 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-Uke cymes. The flowers as a whole resemble those of the Common Apple. FRinT—Ripens about October. Pome or apple-like, borne on long slender stelks, depressed- globose, 1-lJ Inches in diameter, crowned with persistent calyx lobes and filaments, yellowish- green, fragrant. The fltBh is clear and heavily charged with bitter malic acid, ^eeds chestnut- brown and shiny. WOOI>—Diffuse-porous; rays not distinct; hard, heavy, light reddish-brown. Weighs about 40 lbs. per cubic foot. Used for carving, engraving, tool handles, and some turned articles. DISTINGinSHING CHARACTERISTICS—The American Crab Apple closely resembles our cultivated apple, only the leaves of the former are smoother, the flowers more brilliant red, and the fruit smaller and very bitter. The fruit often persists far into winter and does not lot readily It can be distinguished from the closely related Narrow-leaved Crab Apple (Pyms angustlfolia, Alt.) by its persistent calyx-lobes on the fruit, and by Its ovate leaf-blades, while those of the latter are usually lanceolate. RANGE—Ontario south through South Carolina to Alabama, west to Michigan, Missouri and northern Louisiana. DISTRIBTTTION IN PENNSYLVANIA—Common in the southwestern part of the State. Local outposts reported from the central and western parts of the State. Peter Kalm, a pupU of Linnaeus, who traveled In America In 1753, reported this species "plentiful In Pennsylvania. It is, however, not very abundant at the present time. In many localities It is unknown and In others only a few specimens occur. HABITAT—Usually found In thickets and open woods where rich moist soil Is present. Probably occurs most frequently on little hill-tops near streams and ponds. IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES—The American Crab Apple Is of no commercial Importance as a forest tree. It rarely exceeds 25 ft. In height. The fruit Is used for jellies and for cider. It Is a most attractive ornamental tree on account of Its showy and fragrant flowers produced In great profusion.
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PLATE XC. AMERICAN CRAB APPLE 1. .\ flowering branch, x *. 2. Longitudinal sertion of a Huwer, eniiirt'»i :','. A fniiting branch, x J. 4. Section of a fruit, natural size. .-.. A winter twig, natural size. 6 SeetioD of a winter twig, enlarged.

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