Peraphyllum ramosissimum
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| Peraphyllum ramosissimum |
This shrub is in the Rosaceae (Rose family). Commonly known as the Squaw Apple or Wild Crab Apple, P. ramosissimum is the only known species of the genus Peraphyllum. The fruits of this shrub are called pomes, which are similar to other fruits such as the apple, pear, and loquat.
Squaw Apple grows in California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico usually in pine and juniper woodlands. Some specific dwelling areas of California include the High Cascades, High Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin. Translated from the Greek, the genus (Peraphyllum) means "very leafy" and the species name (ramosissimum) means "many branches".
[edit] Morphology
Like most other flowering plants of the Rosaceae, P. ramosissimum has 5 petals and 5 sepals with radial symmetry. The squaw apple's flowers have about 15-20 free stamens. The petals are white to rose in color. Its gynoecium is comprised of one inferior ovary with 4-6 chambers. Its single pistil has usually 2, sometimes 3, styles.
The squaw apple has once-compound leaves having about 3-5 oblanceolate leaves per petiole.
[edit] References
James C. Hickman, ed. 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. Univ. California
