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Malus florentina, the Florentine crabapple, Italian crabapple, or hawthorn-leaf crabapple, is a species of apple (Malus) in the rose family (Rosaceae). It was first described in 1806 as Crataegus florentina, however, the species' taxonomy was unclear for decades, and it was at times considered to be a natural hybrid between the wild service tree (Aria torminalis) and the European wild apple (M. sylvestris). Today, its inclusion in Malus is largely undisputed. It is a small deciduous tree with dark-green leaves, characterised by large, white flowers, small fruit, and a late flowering season in early summer. It is native to Italy, the southern Balkan Peninsula and a limited area in northern Anatolia, but is occasionally grown elsewhere as an ornamental tree. The fruit is edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. M.
Malus florentina has a disjunct, relictual and patchy distribution, found on both sides of the Adriatic Sea, on the Apennine Peninsula and the Balkan Peninsula. Additionally, it has also been reported from three widely dispersed localities in northern Anatolia, particularly from the Pontic Alps, and new localities continue to be discovered in the 21st century. Its distribution bears a similarity to other woody species such as Hungarian oak (Quercus frainetto), Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii), and Oriental hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis). Following its initial description in 1806, M. florentina was only known to occur on the Apennine Peninsula, until further botanical exploration revealed its occurrence in Anatolia and the Balkans in 1889 and 1918, respectively. Thus, although it is not endemic to the Apennine Peninsula, it was at times falsely believed to be so.
The fruit of the species can be eaten raw or cooked. When bletted, it has a mealy texture with a soft acidic flesh, and is refreshing in small quantities. Although the species has been noted for its ornamental value, including its relatively late, attractive bloom, its autumn colour, and its bark, it is only rarely cultivated. Nonetheless, M. florentina is hardy in temperate Europe, with specimens growing in several collections as far north as Trondheim, Norway. The species is also relatively indifferent with respect to soil and soil pH, but prefers moist or wet soil that is well drained. It also prefers a sunny position, but can also manage when semi-shaded. M. florentina is resistant to powdery mildew, but susceptible to fire blight, particularly in North America.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Malus florentina by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
