Malus spectabilis

Malus spectabilis

The Chinese apple (Malus spectabilis ) is a kind of deciduous tree from the kind of apples in the rose family ( Rosaceae ). This popular ornamental tree native to China.

Dissemination

The Chinese apple is native to China; its deposits extend across the provinces of Hebei, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Yunnan and Zhejiang. He grows in plains and in mountain regions from 500 to 2000 m in height; However, true wild occurrences are apparently not known.

The tree is in any case already since 1750, probably even earlier, well-known in Europe.

Description

The Chinese apple grows in Central Europe mostly as a large shrub, often as a small tree up to 8 m Height. In England, he reaches a height of about 12 meters with a trunk diameter up to about 0.6 m. The bark has fine spiral grooves and is purple-brown with thick gray scales. The crown is usually conical and widens significantly with age, then the branches hang down a bit.

The leaves are 5-8 cm long and 3 cm wide. They are elliptical in shape with unequal base approach. The leaves are shiny above and have a 1.5 cm long hairy stalk.

The flowering time is in April to May. The flower buds are spherical and pink; the full-blown flower is slightly lighter and to more than 5 cm wide. She is half-filled with six to eight petals; the stamens are 1.5 cm long and wide stand-off. The fruit is about 2 to 3 cm in size and spherical. It is yellowish and tastes sour, but after matching storage raw or cooked edible.

Use

The Chinese apple is a popular ornamental tree mainly because of its flowers. Especially in northern and eastern China, he is often planted.

System

The first description of Moritz Balthasar Borkhausen was published in 1803. Synonyms are Pyrus spectabilis Aiton, Malus domestica var Borkhausen spectabilis ( Aiton ) Likhonos and M. A. microcarpa var Savatier spectabilis ( Aiton ) Carrière.

There are cultivated varieties described below:

• Malus spectabilis var riversis (G. Kirchner ) Rehder: This variety has pink flowers.
• Malus spectabilis var albipena clamp: With white flowers.