Malus baccata

Malus baccata is an Asian species of apple known by the common names Siberian crab apple,[2] Siberian crab,[3] Manchurian crab apple and Chinese crab apple.[4][5][6] It is native to many parts of Asia, but is also grown elsewhere as an ornamental tree and for rootstock. It is used for bonsai. It bears plentiful, fragrant, white flowers and edible red to yellow fruit of about 1 cm (3⁄8 in) diameter.

Malus baccata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Malus
Species:
M. baccata
Binomial name
Malus baccata
(L.) Borkh. 1803
Synonyms[1]
  • Malus baccata var. sibirica (Maxim.) C.K.Schneid.
  • Malus sibirica (Maxim.) Kom. & Aliss.
  • Malus sibirica Borkh.
  • Pyrus baccata L. 1767
  • Pyrus baccata var. sibirica Maxim.

Description
Trunk

The trees grow up to 10–14 m (33–46 ft) high. They have arching or overhanging red-brown branches and red-brown buds. The petioles are 2–5 cm (3⁄4–2 in) long, with few glands. Leaves are elliptical or egg-shaped, 3 cm–8 cm × 2 cm–3.5 cm (1+1⁄4 in–3+1⁄4 in × 3⁄4 in–1+1⁄2 in). The pedicels are slender and 1.5–4 cm (5⁄8–1+5⁄8 in) long. They bear white, fragrant flowers of 3–3.5 cm (1+1⁄8–1+3⁄8 in) in diameter in groups of four to six. Petals are white and egg-shaped, about 2.0–2.5 cm (3⁄4–1 in) long. Fruits are red to yellow and spherical, only about 1 cm (3⁄8 in) in diameter; they form dense clusters and resemble cherries from a distance. Flowering occurs in spring, with fruits appearing in September and October.[7][5][6]

Taxonomy

The subordinate taxa include these varieties:[4][7][6]

  • Malus baccata var. baccata (10–14 m or 33–46 ft tall) – China, Korea, Russia, Mongolia
  • Malus baccata var. daochengensis
  • Malus baccata var. gracilis (4–6 m or 13–20 ft) – Gansu and Shaanxi in China
  • Malus baccata var. himalaica
  • Malus baccata var. jinxianensis
  • Malus baccata var. mandshurica (Manchurian crab apple, 5–10 m or 16–33 ft)
  • Malus baccata var. xiaojinensis

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to Russia, Mongolia, China, Korea, Bhutan, India, and Nepal,[4] where it is common to mixed forests on hilly slopes at elevations up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft).[7] The tree is found in Japan,[6] and it has also been introduced to Europe and North America, where it is found in the wild mostly in the Great Lakes Region and in the Northeastern United States.[8][9]

Uses

The species is used as ornament for its flowers and fruit. The fruits are edible and are eaten fresh or dried. It is one of the tallest and most resistant to cold and pest[10] species of its genus, thus is used for experimental breeding and grafting of other crab and domesticated apples.[11][12] In particular, it is a common genetic source for M. pumila and M. asiatica in northern and northeastern China.[4][7] M. b. var. mandshurica is used for bonsai.[13]

See also

References
  1. The Plant List, Malus baccata (L.) Borkh.
  2. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Malus baccata". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  3. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  4. "Malus baccata". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  5. Andrew Jackson Downing (1859). The fruits and fruit trees of America: or, The culture, propagation, and management, in the garden and orchard, of fruit trees generally. J. Wiley & sons. pp. 228–. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  6. Ran Levy-Yamamori; Ran Levy; Gerard Taaffe (17 September 2004). Garden plants of Japan. Timber Press. pp. 153–. ISBN 978-0-88192-650-7. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  7. Malus baccata in Flora of China @. Efloras.org. Retrieved on 2011-02-22.
  8. PLANTS Profile for Malus baccata (Siberian crab apple) | USDA PLANTS. Plants.usda.gov (2005-04-04). Retrieved on 2011-02-22.
  9. Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  10. D. K. Kishore; Dr. Satish K. Sharma (2006). Temperate horticulture: current scenario. New India Publishing. pp. 102–. ISBN 978-81-89422-36-3. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  11. John C. Roecklein; PingSun Leung (1 January 1987). A Profile of economic plants. Transaction Publishers. pp. 238–. ISBN 978-0-88738-167-6. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  12. Western Fruit Gardening. University of California Press. 1953. pp. 100, 136–137. GGKEY:45WEAJKYP7F. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  13. William M. Ciesla; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2002). Non-wood forest products from temperate broad-leaved trees. Food & Agriculture Org. pp. 24–. ISBN 978-92-5-104855-9. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
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