''Malus floribunda'',
common name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...
Japanese flowering crabapple,
Japanese crab,
purple chokeberry,
[ or showy crabapple,][ originates from Japan and East Asia. It may be a ]hybrid
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...
of ''M. toringo'' with ''M. baccata'', in which case it would be written as ''Malus'' × ''floribunda''.
Description
''Malus floribunda'' forms a round-headed, deciduous tree up to in height, with narrow leaves on arching branches. The flowers, appearing in spring, are white or pale pink, opening from crimson buds. The red or yellow fruit is about 1 cm in diameter, ripening in autumn.[
]
Resistance
Tree has good disease resistance to apple scab
Apple scab is a common disease of plants in the rose family ( Rosaceae) that is caused by the ascomycete fungus ''Venturia inaequalis''. While this disease affects several plant genera, including ''Sorbus, Cotoneaster,'' and '' Pyrus'', it is m ...
and powdery mildew.
The initiators of the PRI disease resistant apple breeding program The PRI disease resistant apple breeding program is a joint project of the Purdue University, Rutgers University, and the University of Illinois, to breed apple cultivars to be resistant to apple scab. The initialism stands for the three involved un ...
have discovered that ''Malus floribunda'' has resistance to the apple scab
Apple scab is a common disease of plants in the rose family ( Rosaceae) that is caused by the ascomycete fungus ''Venturia inaequalis''. While this disease affects several plant genera, including ''Sorbus, Cotoneaster,'' and '' Pyrus'', it is m ...
and founded the program to introduce this ''VF gene'' into cultivated apples. Their work had been progressing with great success.
Awards
This crabapple species is considered one of the best crabapples for form and flowerUniversity of Florida
/ref> and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...
's Award of Garden Merit
The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions.
History
The Award of Garden Merit ...
.
See also
*Applecrab Applecrabs are various hybrids between crabapples and apples. They are bred for varying reasons, including disease resistance and use in cold climates because they are often hardier than apple trees and their fruit has the good eating qualities of ...
References
External links
floribunda
Crabapples
Flora of Japan
Flora of temperate Asia
{{malus-stub