FFF44 - CRAB APPLE FLOWERS

Crab apple is a term used for several species of Malus in the family Rosaceae, which are characterised by small sour fruit resembling familiar table apples (Malus domestica). They are usually small trees or shrubs. The plants are grown primarily as ornamentals, although a few growers produce the fruit commercially. The fruit is preserved or pickled or it is used in making jellies. Most crab apples are grown for their ornamental value, and cultivars are chosen because of their beautiful flowers, foliage, or fruit.

The flower is similar to that of the apple. Bees freely visit the flowers, for both nectar and pollen. Like the apple, the crab apple appears to require cross-pollination between cultivars by insects. Self-pollination is impossible and pollinating insects are absolutely needed. Considering that the only difference between the crab apple and the apple is fruit size, it seems reasonable that the most effective pollinator of apples, the honey bee, should be equally effective on the crab apple.
Crab apple species freely hybridise among themselves and with domestic apples. They produce copious and highly fertile pollen, thus are used as pollenisers in apple orchards. Varieties of crabapple are selected to bloom contemporaneously with the apple variety in an orchard planting, and the crabs are planted every sixth or seventh tree, or limbs of crab are grafted onto some of the apple trees. In emergencies a bucket or drum bouquet of crab apple blossoms are placed near the beehives as orchard pollenisers.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!