Talk:Malus

link fix

Link to Ontario crabapple pollenizers needs to be fixed because the top page apparently moved. May get to it myself if I have time. If not, someone please fix this. Isoxyl 17:52, 6 October 2005 (UTC)

Taxonomy updates

Updated some of the taxonomy; several that were formerly considered separate species are now all classed as M. sylvestris subspecies. 66.19.229.79 16:19, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Needs more work though. The taxobox now plain sucks. Is pumilus a synonym of sieversii? Dysmorodrepanis 19:35, 29 May 2007 (UTC)

Think the "uses" section violates NPOV? Pecosdave 07:32, 28 April 2007 (UTC)

Scientific name

In this article, the domestic apple is called in the body text Malus sylvestris domestica and it's wild parent is called M. sylvestris sieversii, - subspecies of the Euopean Wild apple, but over on Apple it's just M. sieversii and M. domestica. The taxobox here makes things even more confusing because it, too mentions M. sieversii, contradicting the body text. Any suggestions on which way things need to be harmonized? --Bytor (talk) 09:51, 29 July 2008 (UTC)

Crab Apples

I don't know why crab apples forward here. If I want to quickly find out about crab apples, I don't want to read through a bunch of stuff about an entire genus. (I came here to find out whether they were edible). My opinion is, Crab Apples should have their own article, and forward to this page for details on its biological classification. Or else, have a section on this page about crab apples. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.148.58.106 (talk) 03:08, 20 October 2008 (UTC)

Crabapples

Ya, they're nice, don't taste very good... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.18.221.220 (talk) 04:09, 21 July 2009 (UTC)

Crabapple seeds toxic?

Title: Crab apple jelly, with or without seeds? [1]

Question: When making crabapple jelly, is it acceptable to leave the apple intact? The crabapples I purchased are very small and very hard to peel and cut. However, I'm concerned that there will be cyanide formation and resulting potential harm. How does leaving the seeds in affect the flavour. Would it turn bitter?

Text: Crabapples are immature apples e.g. Western Crab Apple Pyrus coronaria or Siberian Crab Apple Pyrus baccata. Like other stone fruit including apples (Malus domestica), peaches (Prunus persica), almonds (Prunus dulcis), apricots (Prunus armeniaca) and cherries (Prunus cerasus, P. avium), they have seeds containing cyanide compounds that can be released when consumed raw. However, this is dependent on an enzyme that converts the compound to amygdalin, which releases the cyanide that, in large amounts, can be harmful, in the worst-case scenario even fatal. However, the body is able to break down small amounts of cyanide in foods when ingested. In addition, heat destroys the enzyme responsible for the release of cyanides. Thus, boiling the fruit with the seeds will only affect the flavour. Therefore it is recommended to remove the stems and the seeds for preserving, retaining the proper flavour.

However, this is not a health concern.If the crabapples are too small to cut, wash them properly, boil them and remove the seeds and stems during the boiling process.

Make sure the jars are properly processed after filling. Do not simply hot-fill and keep at room temperature. The jars need heat processing like any other preserve.

Reference(s):

National Food Safety Database. 2001. Pits & Seeds, preserving with or without. Lackey.CJ. http://foodsafety.ifas.ufl.edu/nc/nc234.htm "In Canning. It is best to remove pits and seeds from fruit before canning (exception: pickled peaches or other fruits that are canned whole). During processing undesirable flavors can develop. If any toxic compounds are produced, they are probably in low enough concentrations that the body can handle them."

Mark's Fruit crops 2001. http://www.uga.edu/fruit/#Crops -71.174.182.31 (talk) 01:51, 19 September 2009 (UTC)

Chestnut crabaple

I have removed the following from the discussion of "crabaples" (as opposed to orchard apples). The Chestnut Crabapple is an orchard apple — Jay L09 (talk) 19:47, 10 October 2010 (UTC)

"The Chestnut Crabapple is an exception in that its fruit is sweet tasting.^{[citation needed]} A very hardy plant, the Chestnut Crabapple blooms in early to mid-May and is an excellent pollinator for other fruit apples. It produces a very large crabapple, up to 2" (5 cm) in diameter, that ripens in early September with a pleasant nut-like flavor and good texture for fresh eating. The fruit quality holds well on the tree, being quite spritely at first and becoming sweeter later on, with a medium storage life."

I've restored the paragraph. It might be usable in an orchard and fine for eating fresh, but it is still a crabapple, as the name "Chestnut crabapple" suggests. See http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/00-011.htm, particularly table 2. Nadiatalent (talk) 20:49, 10 October 2010 (UTC)

Taxonomy

The taxonomy here is not so detailed as the Swedish one. I propose to extend the English taxonomy tree. See Äpple. Sae1962 (talk) 10:34, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

I don't quite understand, do you mean the ranks above family in the taxobox? Nadiatalent (talk) 13:16, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

Meters Vs. Feet

We Americans have no clue what 5 meters or what ever is. Please list height in both Feet, Inches and your meters. Thanks. --71.88.37.225 (talk) 02:21, 22 February 2012 (UTC)

Help is available; see metre. Nadiatalent (talk) 02:55, 22 February 2012 (UTC)