Peraphyllum Peraphyllum ramosissimum | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
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.
Peraphyllum ramosissimum is a shrub which may reach 3 metres (10 ft) in height. [1] Growing up to 3.5 centimetres (1+1⁄2 in) long, [1] the leaves are simple; they can grow very close together on short shoots but are well separated on longer shoots. [2]
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. [1]
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 . [3]
Peraphyllum ramosissimum grows in Washington, California, Oregon, [1] Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, usually in pine and juniper woodlands. [1] In California it can be found in the High Cascades, High Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert sky islands.
The ripe pome is edible and sweetish but has a bitter aftertaste. [1]