Malus domestica
Record ID:60Naming |
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|---|---|
| Botanical Name: | Malus domestica |
| Common Names: | Common Apple, Eating Apple, Cooking Apple |
| Key Name: | Apple |
| Parts Used: | Fruit, bark, leaves |
| Sister Plants: | Malus sylvestris, Malus pumila, Pyrus communis |
| Comments: | Fruit tree with significant pollinator support; globally cultivated |
Characteristics |
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| Identifying Character: | Small to medium tree (10-40 ft), grey-brown bark with fissures, oval leaves with serrated edges, pink-white flowers, green to red apples |
| Stem: | Grey-brown with shallow fissures, peeling in strips |
| Leaves: | Oval, serrated, 2-4 inches, glossy green turning yellow in fall |
| Flowers: | Pink-white, 5-petaled flowers in clusters, blooming April-May |
| Fruit: | Green to red apples, 5-10 cm, ripening September-October |
| Taste: | Sweet to tart (fruit), bitter (bark) |
| Odour: | Sweet floral scent from flowers, woody bark scent |
| Root: | Shallow, spreading root system; supports soil stability |
| Image: |
Image URL: https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.9mw4wgK0OfLTyEqiNSK2YQHaHZ%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=321b44ef653e003203f99ab1a3d3331c262962dbb565414600c5ffa5d464864a&ipo=images |
Distribution |
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| Distribution: | Europe, Central Asia, naturalized worldwide |
| Cultivation: | Prefers well-drained loam, full sun; propagate by grafting |
| Harvest: | Bark: Spring from pruned branches; Fruit: Late summer to fall |
Medical |
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| Therapeutic Action: | Astringent, diuretic, digestive, antioxidant |
| Medical Uses: | Used for digestion, diarrhea, urinary health, and as an antioxidant; cider vinegar for detoxification |
| Constituents: | Polyphenols, pectin, malic acid, vitamin C |
| Solvents: | Water, vinegar (cider), alcohol (tincture) |
| Dosage: | Fruit: 1-2 apples daily; Bark tincture: 5-10 drops in water 2-3 times daily |
| Administration: | Internal: Raw fruit or cider vinegar; External: Poultice for skin |
| Formulas: | Combine with ginger for digestion; with rosehip for vitamin C boost |
| Contra Indications: | May cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals; avoid excessive bark use due to tannins; consult healthcare provider |
| Preparation: | Cider vinegar: Ferment apple scraps for 4-6 weeks; Tincture: Steep 1 part bark in 5 parts alcohol for 2-4 weeks |
| Chinese: | No documented use in Traditional Chinese Medicine |
| Veterinary: | Used for digestive upset or wound treatment in livestock |
| Homeopathic: | No known homeopathic use documented |
Pollination and Pollinators |
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| Apis: | No |
| Pollinator: | 1 |
| Pollen: | Yes |
| Pollen Notes: | Wind-dispersed, visited by bees for pollen |
| Nectar: | Yes |
| Nectar Notes: | Attracts bees for nectar, supports pollinator health |
Other |
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| Non-Medical Uses: | Wood for tool handles, ornamental planting, wildlife food source |
| Culinary Uses: | Fruit eaten fresh, dried, or in cider; bark in teas |
| History: | Cultivated since ancient times in Europe and Asia; apples in traditional remedies |
| Reference: | Plants For A Future; Traditional Herbal Medicine |
| URL: | https://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Malus+domestica |
| Share: | Private |