Fruit trees, what are they?

[wanderinstar]

Hi all,
Have seen quite a few trees just lately, laden with yellow fruits about the size of grapes. These fruits are very hard, possibly not yet ripe. ( in mid October) On another tree some of the fruit higher up tree was turning orange, but not all over, Bit like Royal Gala apples.
Anyone know what they are?

 

[British Red]

Ian,

Very hard to tell mate from the description. Could be medlar, could be crab apple..

Hang on, I've a picc somewhere of yellow medlar...I'll post it in a bit

Red

 

[Moonraker]

Hi all,
Have seen quite a few trees just lately, laden with yellow fruits about the size of grapes. These fruits are very hard, possibly not yet ripe. ( in mid October) On another tree some of the fruit higher up tree was turning orange, but not all over, Bit like Royal Gala apples.
Anyone know what they are?

Probably a Sorbus species of some sort. Like the wild Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis) but cultivated specimens for ornamental use in streets, parks or gardens. They can have white and red and yellow fruit. The same genus as apples.

Photo of the fruit of the Wild Service Tree;

http://www.saxifraga.de/foto_bot/sorbus_torminalis.jpg

but they are brown fruit turning red.

It could also be a crab apple if it is in woods/ hedgerow or even a cultivated form of ornamental crab apple. Medlars are brown rather than white.

A photo or more info on location would help.

 

[sharp88]

Sounds possibly like quinces?

 

[wanderinstar]

Well the fruits are definately bright yellow, not brown and not red.

 

[Moonraker]

Sounds possibly like quinces?

Possibly but they would generally be larger than grape size.

 

[British Red]

With the ever clever Siimon pointing out its almost certainly not a medlar (ta mate ) I'm going now for a wild damson type - perhaps like this from your description? Seems late in the year though, even that far north

Any good? Assuming not (and I suspect not) are they kind of "nobbly"? What would lead me more to the crab apple or quince view

Red

 

[wanderinstar]

Thats about the size and colour, but they are not pointed like that.

 

[Moonraker]

Well the fruits are definately bright yellow, not brown and not red.

Where were these trees? woodland, parkland, urban area...? Can you remember the shape of the leaf?

 

[Toddy]

If it's quince you are a lucky man They have a beautiful sweet but subtle scent that will make the whole house smell lovely with one bowlfull left to sit someplace open. They also make excellent jam and jellies, don't know about wine, they can be very bitter. Known to the ancients as Aphrodite's apple

cheers,
Toddy

 

[JonnyP]

I will plump for the butterball crab apple, I have one in my garden, will try to find a photo Ian....
Here you go try this one http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?i...es?q=malus+butterball&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&sa=G

 

[Moonraker]

OK my brain is working now after a pint I suspect it is the Service Tree (Sorbus domestica)

Check these images here;

http://www.wald-in-not.de/bilder/spei1.jpg

http://www.lejardindesophie.net/jardinautes/bahuaud/sorbusdomestica.jpg

http://www.legambientearcipelagotos...lora/habitat/bosco/sorbus domestica sorbo.jpg

these are ripe fruit. It ripens September to October in England. It can and does cross breed with other species such as crab apples.

Only thing is in the wild it is rare in Britain but it does get planted too. The Mountain Ash like pinnate leaf form is a give away.

Ring any bells?

 

[wanderinstar]

Yes Jon,
Think thats the one, certainly looks like it. Now we have I.D.d it can you do anything with fruit?

 

[JonnyP]

Yes Jon,
Think thats the one, certainly looks like it. Now we have I.D.d it can you do anything with fruit?

Well make fully sure it is a crab apple first, then you can do all sorts with it, pies, puddings, jams, chutney etc.....

 

[wanderinstar]

Do the fruits go softer like ordinary apples or do they stay very hard. Does frost help them.

 

[Moonraker]

Do the fruits go softer like ordinary apples or do they stay very hard. Does frost help them.

If it is crab apple then Yes.

Fruit - raw or cooked[9, 15]. Used for jellies, preserves and juices[183]. The flavour improves considerably if the fruit is not harvested until it has been frosted[12]. The fruit is quite variable in size (it is about 2 - 4cm in diameter[200]) and quality. Whilst usually harsh and acid, some forms are quite sweet and can be eaten out of hand[K]. The fruit is rich in pectin and can be used in helping other fruits to set when making jam etc[61, 142]. Pectin is also said to protect the body against radiation[201]. An edible oil can be obtained from the seed[4]. It would only really be viable to use these seeds as an oil source if the fruit was being used for some purpose such as making cider and then the seeds could be extracted from the remaining pulp[K]. A very pleasant tea can be made from the leaves[7].

source: http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Malus+sylvestris