''Malus angustifolia'', or southern crabapple, is a species of

crabapple ''Malus'' ( or ) is a genus of about 32–57 species of small deciduous trees or shrubs in the family Rosaceae, including the domesticated orchard apple, crab apples (sometimes known in North America as crabapples) and wild apples. The genus i ...

native to the eastern and south-central United States.

Description

''M. angustifolia'' is a tree sometimes attaining a height of 10 meters (33 feet). The trunk can have a diameter up to . The flowers are pink, with a pleasant scent. The fruits are up to in diameter, and have an aromatic scent and a pear-like shape.

Taxonomy

The following two

varieties Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

are known: * ''Malus angustifolia'' var. ''angustifolia'' * ''Malus angustifolia'' var. ''puberula'' (Rehder) Rehder

Distribution and habitat

The species can be found from

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

west to eastern

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

and north to

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

and

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

Ecology

The fruits are eaten by various wildlife.

Uses

Although the fruits are

astringent An astringent (sometimes called adstringent) is a chemical that shrinks or constricts body tissues. The word derives from the Latin '' adstringere'', which means "to bind fast". Astringency, the dry, puckering or numbing mouthfeel caused by t ...

, acidic, and unpalatable when raw, they can be used to make jellies, jams, and food preserves.Flora of North America, ''Malus angustifolia'' (Aiton) Michaux, 1803. Southern or narrow-leaved crabapple
/ref>''Malus angustifolia''
at

Plants for a Future Plants For A Future (PFAF) is an online not for profit resource for those interested in edible and useful plants, with a focus on temperate regions. Named after the phrase "plans for a future" as wordplay, the organization's emphasis is on perenni ...

The tree is grown as an

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...

References

External links

Carolina Nature

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas

Leafsnap.com: Images of the Southern Crabapple ''(Malus angustifolia)''
angustifolia Crabapples Flora of the Southeastern United States Flora of the Northeastern United States Flora of the North-Central United States Flora of the Appalachian Mountains Flora of Texas Fruits originating in North America Trees of Northern America Plants described in 1789 {{malus-stub