Peraphyllum
| Peraphyllum Peraphyllum ramosissimum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Subfamily: | Amygdaloideae |
| Tribe: | Maleae |
| Subtribe: | Malinae |
| Genus: | Peraphyllum Nutt. |
| Species: | P. ramosissimum |
| Binomial name | |
| Peraphyllum ramosissimum Nutt. | |
Peraphyllum is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the rose family, containing the single species Peraphyllum ramosissimum, commonly known as wild crab apple.
Description
[edit]Peraphyllum ramosissimum is a shrub which may reach 3 metres (10 ft) in height.[2] Growing up to 3.5 centimetres (1+1⁄2 in) long,[2] the leaves are simple; they can grow very close together on short shoots but are well separated on longer shoots.[3]
Like most other flowering plants of the Rosaceae, P. ramosissimum has 5 petals and 5 sepals with radial symmetry. The flowers have about 15–20 free stamens, and the petals are white to rose in color. The fruit is a yellowish to purplish pome about 1 centimetre (1⁄2 in) wide.[2]
Taxonomy
[edit]Translated from the Greek, the genus Peraphyllum means "very leafy" and the species name ramosissimum means "many branches". Peraphyllum is most closely related to Amelanchier, Malacomeles, Crataegus, and Mespilus.[4]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Peraphyllum ramosissimum grows in Washington, California, Oregon,[2] Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, usually in pine and juniper woodlands.[2] In California it can be found in the High Cascades, High Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert sky islands.
Uses
[edit]The ripe pome is edible and sweetish but has a bitter aftertaste.[2]
References
[edit]- ↑ NatureServe. "Peraphyllum ramosissimum". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Turner, Mark; Kuhlmann, Ellen (2014). Trees & Shrubs of the Pacific Northwest (1st ed.). Portland, OR: Timber Press. p. 248. ISBN 978-1-60469-263-1.
- ↑ Janene Auger and Justin G. Smith, Peraphyllum ramosissimum Nutt., squaw-apple in Woody Plant Seed Manual Interim Web Site Archived 2009-02-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Campbell, C.S.; Evans, R.C.; Morgan, D.R.; Dickinson, T.A.; Arsenault, M.P. (2007). Phylogeny of subtribe Pyrinae (formerly the Maloideae, Rosaceae): Limited resolution of a complex evolutionary history. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 266(1–2): 119–145.
External links
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