European crab apple
The ancestor of cultivated apple trees 
The European crab apple (Malus sylvestris) is one of the ancestors of cultivated apple trees, obtained after centuries of selections and improvements. It is a small tree with branches that are sometimes thorny. The large flowers 
, with five petals, are white or pink on the outside and are very fragrant, attracting pollinating insects 
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, with five petals, are white or pink on the outside and are very fragrant, attracting pollinating insects .The fruits , with a yellowish-green color, are small, tart, and hard, but they can be used for jams, preserves, and wine. They are highly sought after by birds.
, with a yellowish-green color, are small, tart, and hard, but they can be used for jams, preserves, and wine. They are highly sought after by birds.The plant is a host for the Scarce swallowtail butterfly (Iphiclides podalirius) and the Eyed Hawk-moth (Smerinthus ocellatus).
(Iphiclides podalirius) and the Eyed Hawk-moth (Smerinthus ocellatus).
Did you know? 
It is estimated that since the beginning of cultivation, over 10,000 cultivated varieties of apple trees have been selected, but most of them have been lost.
Photo Hans Hillewaert, via Wikimedia Commons
