Iowa crab apple Malus ioensis Kingdom: Plantae FEATURES Division: Magnoliophyta Iowa crab apple is also known as the prairie crab Class: Magnoliopsida apple. This deciduous tree may attain a height of 25 Order: Rosales feet. Its trunk diameter may be as much as one foot. The bark is red-brown. Twigs are also red-brown, Family: Rosaceae and they may be spiny. The leaves are arranged ILLINOIS STATUS alternately along the stem. These simple, elliptic to oval leaves may be four and one-half inches long common, native and about two inches wide. Leaves have toothed edges and shallow lobes. They are dark green and smooth on the upper surface and yellow-green and hairy on the lower surface. The leafstalks may be one inch in length. Flowers, up to two inches wide, are borne in clusters of three or more. The flowers have five, rounded white or pink petals. The fruits are yellow-green apples (pomes), up to one and three-fourths inches across.

BEHAVIORS Iowa crab apple may be found throughout Illinois. It grows in the edges of prairies, fields, woods and thickets. Flowers are produced in May. The fruit is used in making jelly and as food for wildlife.

tree ILLINOIS RANGE

bark

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. leaves fruit

Aquatic Habitats none

Woodland Habitats none

Prairie and Edge Habitats black soil prairie; edge; shrub prairie

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources.