Malus trilobata

Malus trilobata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Malus
Species: M. trilobata
Binomial name
Malus trilobata
(Poir.) C.K.Schneid.

Malus trilobata, the Lebanese wild apple, erect crab apple or three-lobed apple tree, is a species in the family Rosaceae in the genus Malus. [1] Some authorities place it in the segregate genus Eriolobus, as Eriolobus trilobatus.

Distribution

The distribution of Malus trilobata in Asia includes West and South Anatolia, Syria, Lebanon and North Israel, while in Europe its distribution encompasses the east section of Greek Thrace (Evros Prefecture) and southeastern Bulgaria.[2] Surviving trees in Lebanon can be found in the Mount Lebanon Range, at altitudes of 1,000–1,500 metres (3,300–4,900 ft). [1]

The last remaining forest community of the endemic wild apple in the country, that is protected, is in Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve and Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve.

Description

Malus trilobata has an upright habit with horizontal branching and a mature size of 15 metres (49 ft) height by 7 metres (23 ft) width. [3]

The leaves are maple-like and deeply three-lobed. They turn from orange to red to deep purple in the fall. [1]

The tree blooms during April and May producing white flowers and yellow fruits.

References

  1. 1 2 3 HortScience; October 2008; vol. 43 no. 6
  2. Korakis, Giorgos; Poirazidis, Kostas; Papamattheakis, Nikolaos; Papageorgiou, Aristotelis (2006). "New localities of the vulnerable species Eriolobus trilobatus (Rosaceae) in northeastern Greece" (PDF). Plant, fungal and habitat diversity investigation and conservation • Proceedings of IV BBC – Sofia 2006: 422–426.
  3. PFAF Plant Database: Malus trilobata
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