Species: Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris agg.)
Family: Roses (ROSACEAE)
Category: Flowering Plants
Location: NW
A. Flowering Plants
More extensive information on flowering plants can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Roses (ROSACEAE)
The Rose family gives us many of our most commercially important fruits, such as the Prunus species. They have alternate leaves and 5-petalled flowers.
C. Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris agg.)
The white or pink flowers appear in May. This is not the same as our cultivated apple, which is Malus domestica. Apple wood is dense and resists wear, but has an uneven grain. It is used for inlays, wood turning, veneers, carving, furniture handles, cabinet doors, and witches' wands. It is a good wood to burn for smoking foodstuffs. Too tart to eat raw, crab apples make good jelly and other preserves, and also a tasty wine.
Images
Crab Apple
The white or pink flowers appear in May and are short-lived. This is not the same as our cultivated apple, which is Malus domestica.
