Malus -Scientific nameCommon nameDistribution

Malus angustifolia ( Aiton ) Michx .Southern crabappleEastern and south-central United States from Florida west to eastern Texas and north to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and MissouriMalus coronaria ( L. ) Mill .Sweet crabappleGreat Lakes Region and in the Ohio Valley, United States

Malus ioensis ( Alph. Wood ) BrittonPrairie crabappleUpper Mississippi Valley, United States

The term “Malus” refers to a genus of flowering plants in the rose family (Rosaceae). The most well-known species within this genus is Malus domestica, commonly known as the apple tree. Here is some information about Malus, particularly focusing on Malus domestica:

Scientific Name:

• Genus: Malus
• Species (Commonly Referred to as): Malus domestica (Apple)

Common Name:

• Apple tree is the most common name associated with Malus domestica. Different varieties of apple trees may have specific names based on the type of apple they produce.

Distribution:

• Apples (Malus domestica): Apple trees are cultivated and grown in various regions around the world. The exact distribution depends on climate suitability, as apples thrive in temperate climates. Major apple-producing regions include North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

Characteristics:

• Apple trees are deciduous and typically grow to a moderate height.
• The genus Malus includes not only cultivated apples but also wild species, ornamental varieties, and crabapples.
• The flowers of Malus trees are typically white or pink, and the fruit is known as an “apple.”
• Apples are a widely consumed and versatile fruit, used in various culinary applications.

Ornamental Varieties:

• Apart from the cultivated apple trees, there are ornamental varieties within the Malus genus that are grown for their attractive flowers, foliage, or small fruit. These ornamental varieties are often referred to as flowering crabapples.

Environmental Significance:

• Apple trees contribute to biodiversity and provide ecological benefits. They are valuable for pollinators and can support a diverse range of wildlife.

Horticultural Importance:

• Apples are one of the most widely cultivated and consumed fruits globally. There are numerous apple varieties, each with its unique flavor, texture, and use.

It’s important to note that while Malus domestica is the most widely recognized species within the Malus genus, there are other species and ornamental varieties that contribute to the diversity and significance of this plant group.

Malus brevipes

(Rehder) Rehder

Shrub apple
Section Docyniopsis Schneid .

Malus doumeri ( Bois ) A.Chev.Taiwan crabappleChina (Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Taiwan, Laos, Vietnam
Malus leiocalyca S. Z. Huang
China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang)
Malus meliana Handel-Mazzeti
China (Schuian)Malus tschonoskii ( Maxim. ) C.K.Schneid.Chonosuki crabapple and pillar appleJapanSection Eriolobus ( Seringe ) SchneidMalus trilobata ( Poir. ) C.K.Schneid.Lebanese wild apple, erect crabapple, or three-lobed apple treeAsia includes West and South Anatolia, Syria, Lebanon, and North Palestine, Europe from east section of Greek Thrace (Evros Prefecture) and southeastern BulgariaSection Florentinae ( Rehder ) M.H.Cheng ex G.Z.Qian[5]Malus florentina ( Zucc. ) C.K.Schneid.Florentine crabapple, hawthorn-leaf crabappleBalkan Peninsula and ItalySection Gymnomeles KoehneMalus baccata ( L. ) Borkh. 1803Siberian crabappleRussia, Mongolia, China, Korea, Bhutan, India, and NepalMalus halliana Koehne 1890Hall crabappleJapan and ChinaMalus hupehensis ( Pamp. ) Rehder 1933Tea crabappleChinaMalus mandshurica ( Maxim. ) Kom. ex SkvortsovManchurian crabappleChina, Japan, eastern RussiaMalus sikkimensis Wenz. ) Koehne ex C.K.Schneid.Sikkim crabappleChina, Nepal, Bhutan, and IndiaSection Malus LangenfeldsMalus asiatica NakaiChinese pearleaf crabappleChina and Korea

Malus chitralensis

Vassilcz.

Chitral crab appleIndia, Pakistan
Malus crescimannoi Raimondo
North-eastern SicilyMalus floribunda Siebold ex Van HoutteJapanese flowering crabappleJapan and East Asia
Malus muliensis T.C.Ku
China (Sichuan)Malus prunifolia ( Willd. ) Borkh .Plum-leaf crabapple, Chinese crabappleChinaMalus spectabilis ( Aiton ) Borkh .Asiatic apple, Chinese crabappleChina (Hebei, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Zhejiang)Malus sylvestris ( L. ) Mill .European crabappleEurope
Malus zhaojiaoensis N.G.JiangZhaojiao crab appleChina (Sichuan)Section Sorbomalus ZabelMalus fusca ( Raf. ) C.K.Schneid.Oregon or Pacific crabappleWestern North America from Alaska, through British Columbia, to northwestern California
Malus kansuensis ( Batalin ) C. K. SchneiderCalva crabappleChina (Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan)
Malus komarovii ( Sarg. ) Rehder
China, Manchuria, and North KoreaMalus sargentii Rehder .Sargent crabappleJapanMalus toringo ( Siebold ) de VrieseToringo crabapple or Siebold’s crabappleEastern temperate Asia, in China, Japan, and KoreaMalus toringoides HughesCut-leaf crabappleChina(Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, and Sichuan)Malus transitoria C.K.Schneid.Cut-leaf crabappleChina (Gansu, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, E Xizang)Section Yunnanenses ( Rehd. ) G.Z.Qian[7]

Malus honanensis

Rehder.

Honan CrabappleChina (Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Shanxi)
Malus ombrophila Handel-Mazzetti
China (Sichuan, Xizang,Yunnan)Malus prattii ( Hemsl. ) C.K.Schneid.Pratt’s crabappleChina (Guangdong, Guizhou, west Sichuan, and northwest Yunnan)Malus yunnanensis C.K.Schneid.Yunnan crabappleChina (Yunnan)