Cork's apple
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| Malus germicana |
The Cork's apple is a fruit borne by the tree Malus germicana of the rose family Rosaceae. It varies little in size, between 4"- 6" in diameter. The skin is green and speckled even when ripe. Color can vary from a deep emerald green to a bright grass green. The flesh of the fruit is generally a subdued version of its skin color. The Cork's apple's suitability as a food for humans is not well known.
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[edit] Discovery and Name
The fruit was discovered on a July 1998 trip to the Galápagos Islands by Stephen Cork, a scientist from the Charles Darwin Research Station on a research expedition. Incidentally, Cork and his colleagues were being filmed for the IMAX movie Galápagos on this expedition. After reporting the discovery, Cork was given permission to name the fruit, which was classified as a pome, a subfamily of fruits including the apple. Thus, he named the fruit Cork's apple.
[edit] Location
The fruit is relatively rare and grows most proficiently on the Galápagos Islands. Because of its geographical isolation, the Cork's apple is closely related to few fruits. Its closest relative is the apple (Malus domestica). The Cork's apple tree is moderately sized and deciduous, with a broad, leafy crown and alternating leaves.
[edit] Pollination
Cork's apples require cross-pollination to produce new fruit. Pollination of these fruits is done both entomophily by primarily the Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa darwini) and zoophily by the Galapagos Dove (Zenaida galapagoensis) and the Cactus Ground Finch (Geospiza scandens). Cork's apples develop during the hot season (Dec-May) where there are often heavy rain showers. During very rainy seasons (believed to be caused by El Niño), there is a sharp decline in the number of Cork's apple trees that reach the budding state. This is because of challenges Carpenter Bees face when exposed to abundant amounts of rain. The amount of trees has stayed relatively stable through the past 8 years despite climate change.
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