Eastern crabapple facts for kids
The eastern crabapple, also known as the Caucasus apple, is a type of wild apple tree. Its scientific name is Malus orientalis. You can find this tree growing in countries like Turkey, the Transcaucasus region, and Iran.
Quick facts for kids Eastern crabapple |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Malus
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| Species: |
orientalis
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Contents
Discovering the Eastern Crabapple
The eastern crabapple is a special kind of apple tree. It belongs to the Malus family, which includes all apple trees. This tree is known for its relatively large, yellow fruit.
Where Does This Apple Grow?
The Malus orientalis tree grows naturally in several parts of the world. You can find it in Turkey, including a small area called East Thrace. It also grows in the Transcaucasus region. This area includes countries like Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The eastern crabapple is also found in Iran.
A Fruit from Ancient Times
People have been eating the fruit of the eastern crabapple for thousands of years. Archaeologists found a very interesting clue about this. In an ancient royal tomb in a city called Ur, they discovered a string of dried apple halves. This shows that people were enjoying these apples a very long time ago.
The fruit of the eastern crabapple can be quite tart. To make it taste better, people would dry the fruit first. Then, they would rehydrate it by boiling it. This process helped to reduce the sour taste, making the apples more pleasant to eat.
Its Role in Apple History
You might wonder how the eastern crabapple relates to the apples we eat today. It actually played a small part in creating the apples we know. Most of the apples we eat come from another wild apple species called Malus sieversii. However, Malus orientalis also contributed a little bit to the genes of our modern domesticated apples. It's like a distant relative in the apple family tree!
