Tree and Shrub Identification

Malus Key

This genus is one which contains quite a number of varieties, such as the flowering crabs, which have been planted for commercial or ornamental purposes. Only a few of the most common trees have been included here.

1	Leaves convolute in bud and as they expand, not lobed or deeply cleft, crenate serrate; lower surface of mature leaves, young shoots and outside of calyx with soft, grayish to white tomentum; anthers yellow; buds blunt, tomentose	(apple) Malus pumila
	Leaves folded lengthwise in bud and as they expand, dentate or serrate, often lobed or cleft; anthers red	2
2 (1)	Calyx glabrous (or only sparsely pilose, glabrescent on outside); leaves of fertile branchlets broadly lanceolate, oval to ovate, glabrous when mature, with rounded to cordate base, acute at apex	(sweet crab apple) Malus coronaria
	Calyx densely and permanently woolly on outside; leaves beneath and branchlets woolly tomentose	3
3 (2)	Some of the leaves more or less prominently notched or lobed toward base; sepals erect; fruiting pedicels slender, 2.5 cm or longer; fruit green	(prairie crab apple) Malus ioensis
	Leaves mostly only coarsely toothed; sepals spreading; fruiting pedicels stout, less than 2.5 cm long; fruit yellow	(Soulard crab apple) Malus X soulardii
	(Note: This plant is a hybrid, the result of a cross between Malus ioensis and M. pumila.)

Last Revised: Monday July 30 2007