Malus: which one?

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by AlainK, Oct 3, 2020.

  1. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    I saw a tree in a park, at first I wondered what it was : straight trunk, rounded head, and orange "berries" in clusters. I went closer and I realized it is a Malus (apple-tree). Unfortunately, I didn't take any picture of the whole tree, but I think it is a Malus of some kind. I gathered a couple of dozen fruits and split one to see.

    I have a couple of apple-trees with small fruit : Malus sylvestris, Malus coccinella, Malus Evereste, and Malus 'van Eseltine'.

    But this one looks a different. Any idea what it can be ?

    malus-xyz_201003a.jpg malus-xyz_201003b.jpg
     
  2. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    Your mystery tree is not Malus... common name apple as you can see from the fruits.
    I suspect it is Crataegus sp...Hawthorn family

    Apples cut in half always have the 5 seeds in a star arrangement.

    MALUS  CRAB  APPLES 28-09-2019 17-51-45.JPG MALUS  EVERESTE 28-09-2019 17-51-11.JPG MALUS  JELLY  KING 28-09-2019 17-49-57.JPG
     
  3. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    Permit me to disagree : the leaves don't look at all like Crataegus.

    What's more, I alredy "dissected" fruit from both Crataegus and Malus, and I'm pretty sure these fruit are apples, tiny ones, but definitely not some kind of hawthorn.

    Anyway, I gathered the seeds to plant them : I'll let you know...
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2020
  4. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    I hope Daniel, Ron B or Michael F will pop by to help.
    I do not know Crataegus sp well, but did wonder about Crataegus x persimilis......known by the common names plumleaf hawthorn and broad-leaved cockspur thorn,


    Crataegus x persimilis - Google Search
     
  5. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Look at Lavalle hawthorn
     
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  6. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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  7. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    Thanks a lot Ron B, and Silver surfer,

    I seached the web fo "Lavalle hawtorne", and got links to "Lavelle hawthorne".

    The close-up photo of the fruit matches the one I took ! I think you're right, it must be "Crataegus x Lavellei"
    What's more, the photos of the bark look exactly like the tree in the park.

    I never suspected there was a hawthorne that looked like that -LOL-

    PS : I had a friend at school whose name was "Lavelle". Related to the palyndrom city of "Laval" ;°) Latin "villa", domain, then village.
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2020
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  8. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    ... and thanks Silver surfer for pointing my misinterpretation of the name : I don't know where I found "Lavellei", which is mispelled and led me to a wrong interpretation : Crataegus × lavalleei, sometimes known as hybrid cockspurthorn or Lavallée's hawthorn

    ^_^
     
  9. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    I stewed two Macintosh apples this morning, didn't think to start by cutting them crosswise to see how, between the two of them, they had 23 seeds. Edited - I found one on the floor, so 24 seeds.
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2021

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