Coral

Coral

Origin / History

Originated in the vicinity of Marengo, Illinois. Downing notes that this variety shares the same origin as Chicago. In 1869, Warder described it as No. 4 of the Marengo Winter Siberian crabapples received from Charles Andrews of Marengo, Illinois (Beach, citing Warder, Tilt. Jour. Hort., 5:208, 1869). It is but little cultivated in New York (Beach).

Tree

A pretty good grower, rather spreading in habit. Comes into bearing early and is a reliable cropper, yielding good crops annually (Beach). Not described in source (Downing).

Fruit

Size and Form: The two sources conflict on size: Downing describes the fruit as small, while Beach gives it as medium size or above, about an inch and a half in diameter. On form, Downing describes the fruit as conical, flattened at the ends; Beach describes it as roundish to somewhat oblong, regular.

Stem: Long and slender (Downing). Medium to rather long, slender, bracted (Beach).

Cavity: Narrow, acute, slightly russeted (Downing). Somewhat acute, medium in width and depth, regular, usually russeted (Beach). The two sources agree on the acute character and russeting, but Downing describes the cavity as narrow while Beach gives it as medium in width.

Calyx: Closed, surrounded with corrugated ridges (Downing). Small, closed; lobes reflexed (Beach). Calyx tube long, narrow, funnel-form; stamens median (Beach).

Basin: Little or no basin, but with corrugated ridges surrounding the calyx (Downing). Very shallow, broad and obtuse, or none (Beach).

Skin: Rich warm yellow ground, with a vermilion cheek (Downing). Smooth, yellow, blushed with scarlet (Beach).

Dots: Numerous, medium to small, gray or russet (Beach). Not described in source (Downing).

Flesh and Flavor: Yellowish, crisp, sprightly, juicy, rich, mild subacid, almost tender (Downing). Yellow, breaking, juicy, crisp, sprightly, mild subacid to nearly sweet (Beach). Both sources agree on the yellow color, crisp texture, juiciness, sprightliness, and mild subacid character. Beach adds "breaking" as a texture qualifier and extends the flavor toward nearly sweet; Downing characterizes it as rich and almost tender.

Core and Seeds: Core medium to rather small, axile, with a narrow cylinder in the axis; cells closed or nearly so; core lines clasp the funnel cylinder. Carpels roundish ovate. Seeds compactly fill the cells; small to above medium, obtuse to somewhat acute, plump, dark (Beach). Not described in source (Downing).

Season

October to February (Beach). An early winter sort, keeping until about February (Downing). Both sources agree on the approximate end of the keeping season.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Beach's description also notes the fruit's brilliant color and sprightly subacid flavor as its chief merits, alongside its annual bearing reliability, making it a dependable if minor variety. The variety is referenced in Warder (1869), Downing (1869), Barry (1883), and the New York Station Annual Report (1884).