Rank Species | ||
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Similar Malus florentina, Malus sikkimensis, Malus yunnanensis, Malus prattii, Malus ioensis | ||
Malus trilobata, the Lebanese wild apple, erect crab apple or three-lobed apple tree, is a species in the family Rosaceae in the genus Malus. Some authorities place it in the segregate genus Eriolobus, as Eriolobus trilobatus.
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Distribution
The distribution of Malus trilobata in Asia includes West and South Anatolia, Syria, Lebanon and North Israel, while in Europe its distribution encompasses the east section of Greek Thrace (Evros Prefecture) and southeastern Bulgaria. Surviving trees in Lebanon can be found in the Mount Lebanon Range, at altitudes of 1,000–1,500 metres (3,300–4,900 ft).
The last remaining forest community of the endemic wild apple in the country, that is protected, is in Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve and Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve.
Description
Malus trilobata has an upright habit with horizontal branching and a mature size of 15 metres (49 ft) height by 7 metres (23 ft) width.
The leaves are maple-like and deeply three-lobed. They turn from orange to red to deep purple in the fall.
The tree blooms during April and May producing white flowers and yellow fruits.
