Malus sylvestris
Encyclopedia
Malus sylvestris, the European wild apple, is a species of Malus
(crabapple), native to Europe
from as far south as Spain
, Italy
and Greece
to as far north as Scandinavia
and Russia
. Its scientific name means "forest apple", and the truly wild tree has thorns
.
In the past, M. sylvestris was thought to be an important ancestor of the cultivated apple
s (M. domestica), but these have now been shown to be primarily derived from the central Asian species M. sieversii
. However, another recent DNA analysis showed that M. sylvestris has contributed to the ancestry of M. domestica.
The flowers are hermaphrodite
and are pollinated by insects. Its leaves are food of the caterpillar
s of the Twin-spotted Sphinx (Smerinthus jamaicensis) and possibly the Hawthorn Moth (Scythropia crataegella).
Malus
Malus , the apples, are a genus of about 30–35 species of small deciduous trees or shrubs in the family Rosaceae. Other studies go as far as 55 species including the domesticated Orchard Apple, or Table apple as it was formerly called...
(crabapple), native to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
from as far south as Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
to as far north as Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Its scientific name means "forest apple", and the truly wild tree has thorns
Thorns, spines, and prickles
In botanical morphology, thorns, spines, and prickles are hard structures with sharp, or at least pointed, ends. In spite of this common feature, they differ in their growth and development on the plant; they are modified versions of different plant organs, stems, stipules, leaf veins, or hairs...
.
In the past, M. sylvestris was thought to be an important ancestor of the cultivated apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s (M. domestica), but these have now been shown to be primarily derived from the central Asian species M. sieversii
Malus sieversii
Malus sieversii is a wild apple native to the mountains of Central Asia in southern Kazakhstan, eastern Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Northern Afghanistan and Xinjiang, China. It has recently been shown to be the sole ancestor of most cultivars of the domesticated apple...
. However, another recent DNA analysis showed that M. sylvestris has contributed to the ancestry of M. domestica.
The flowers are hermaphrodite
Plant sexuality
Plant sexuality covers the wide variety of sexual reproduction systems found across the plant kingdom. This article describes morphological aspects of sexual reproduction of plants....
and are pollinated by insects. Its leaves are food of the caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s of the Twin-spotted Sphinx (Smerinthus jamaicensis) and possibly the Hawthorn Moth (Scythropia crataegella).