Catface

Apple

Catface

Origin/History

From Kentucky. Communicated by A. H. Ernst (manuscript), as recorded by Elliott (1865).

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size and Form: Fruit large, conical, truncated (flattened at the ends).

Stem: Long and slender (Elliott).

Cavity: Deep and wide (Elliott).

Calyx: Prominent (Elliott).

Basin: Deep (Elliott).

Skin: Greenish yellow, streaked with light and dark red (Elliott). Downing describes the color more briefly as greenish yellow with streaks of red.

Core and Seeds: Core small; seeds light brown (Elliott).

Flesh and Flavor: Flesh white, tender, brisk, subacid. Quality rated Good (Downing).

Season

Sources conflict on ripening season. Elliott gives April and May; Downing gives February and March.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Cat Face

USDA Nomenclature (1905)

From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56

From Ernst's MS.

View original book sources (2)

Cat Face. From Kentucky. Fruit, large, conical, flattened at ends, greenish yellow, streaked with light and dark red; stem, long, slender; cavity, deep, wide; calyx, prominent; basin, deep; core, small; seeds, light brown; flesh, white, tender, brisk, sub-acid. April and May. (A. H. Ernst, Ms.)

[Additional entry in this volume: "Catface", pp. 135–135]

Cat Face. From Kentucky. Fruit, large, conical, flattened at ends, greenish yellow, streaked with light and dark red; stem, long, slender; cavity, deep, wide; calyx, prominent; basin, deep; core, small; seeds, light brown; flesh, white, tender, brisk, sub-acid. April and May. (A. H. Ernst, Ms.)

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Catface. From Kentucky. Fruit large, conical, truncated, greenish yellow, with streaks of red. Flesh white, tender, brisk, subacid. Good. February, March.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Cat Face