Thursday, 5 May 2016

Apple Tree Names and Types, Species of Malus

Apple Tree Names and Types, Species of Malus

Picture of a Apple Tree
Apple tree (Malus domestica)
Apple Tree in Blossom,
by Sten Porse, Picture use (cc2)
Apple tree flower
Apple tree flowers Malus domestica.
Picture by Roger Griffith
This page is an index to the different types and species of Apple tree of the Malus genus. The most used and well known apple tree is the Orchard Apple tree (Malus domestica). There are about 30 to 55 species of apple trees (depending on which type of botanical taxonomic classification method used), of which most are small flowering deciduous trees and some grow as shrubs. Species of the Malus genus are commonly known as crabapples, crab apples, crabs, or wild apples.
Apple tree appearance, leaves and flowers;
Apple trees are native to the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Most apple trees are 4 to 12 m (13 - 39 ft) tall at mature height, with a round crown. Most Apple leaves are 3 - 10 cm (1,3⁄16" - 3,15⁄16") long, alternate, simple, and have a serrated margin. Apple flowers are borne in corymbs, and have five petals each, which may be white, pink or red. Apple trees typically flower in the spring after 50 to 80 growing degree days (GDD), this will vary greatly according to species and cultivar.
Apple tree fruit:
The apple fruit is a globose pome, varying in size from 1 - 4 cm (0,25⁄64" - 1,37⁄64") diameter on most of the wild species, and up to 8 cm (3,5⁄32") on the cultivated Orchard apple (Malus domestica). The center of the fruit contains five carpels arranged like a star, each containing one or two seeds. Apple trees are all self-sterile, meaning self-pollination is impossible. This requires Apple trees to cross-pollinate between individuals with the help of insects such as bees. All Apple (Malus) species, hybridize naturally.
Ornamental uses of apple trees;
Crabapples are widely grown as ornamental trees, known for their beautiful flowers and or fruit, with many cultivars known for their resistance to disease.
Other uses for apple trees;
Some crabapples are used as rootstocks for Orchard apples to add beneficial characteristics, such as Siberian crab rootstock is used to give additional cold hardiness to the combined plant for orchard apples planted in cold northern areas.
Crabapple trees are also used as pollenizers in apple orchards. Some varieties of crabapple are selected to bloom contemporaneously with the apple variety in the orchard, and the crabapple trees are planted every sixth or seventh tree in each row.
The smoke from an apple wood fire is commonly used for smoking foods.
Apple wood is a good choice for cooking fires because it burns hot and slow, without producing much flame.


Read more from article source: http://www.treenames.net/ti/malus/index_apple_tree.html#ixzz47r7GsWsH
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