Czar's Thorn
AppleCzar's Thorn
Origin/History
A Russian apple. No further origin or introduction history is described in the sources.
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form
The two sources conflict on size and form. Beach (1905) describes a fruit of medium size, roundish conic. Hansen (1902) describes the fruit as large, long, conic, and angular.
Stem
About one-half inch long, stout, with peculiar fleshy protuberances next to the cavity. (Hansen)
Cavity
Nearly flat, with a radiating russet patch. (Hansen)
Calyx
Not described in sources.
Basin
Very shallow, irregular, narrow, with fine wrinkles. (Hansen)
Skin
The two sources give substantially different surface descriptions. Beach (1905) describes the skin as green and yellow, usually shaded and striped with crimson. Hansen (1902) describes the surface as green, overspread with suffused gray net veinings, sometimes with a bronze blush; no crimson striping is mentioned.
Dots distinct, numerous, large, white, suffused. (Hansen)
Flesh and Flavor
The sources agree the flesh is sweet and of fair or near-fair quality, but differ on texture. Beach describes the flesh as rather coarse, sweet, and hardly fair in quality. Hansen describes it as rather dry, sweet, and fair.
Core and Seeds
Core wide open, distant. Cells elliptical, abaxile, slit. Tube funnel-shaped. Stamens median. Seeds short, plump. (Hansen)
Season
September. (Both sources agree.)
Uses
Not valuable. (Beach)
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)CZAR THORN.
REFERENCES. 1. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rept., 1881:53. 2. Ib., 1883:75. 3. Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1883:430. 4. Budd, Ia. Agr. Coll. Bul., 1885:7. 5. Gibb, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1887:44. 6. Taylor, Me. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1892:57. 7. Beach, W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rept., 1896:50. 8. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:43. 1902. fig.
SYNONYMS. Czar Thorn (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). Czar Thorn (2). Czarskui Schip (4). No. 140 M (8). No. 206 (4, 5, 8). Tars Thorn (1). Tsarskui Schip (5). Zarskischip (7). Zarski Schip (2). Zarski Schip (3). Zarski Zars (1).
A Russian apple of medium size, roundish conic, green and yellow usually shaded and striped with crimson; flesh rather coarse, sweet, hardly fair in quality; season September; not valuable.
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)Czar's Thorn (No. 206); (No. 140 M)—Origin, Russia—Fruit large, long, conic, angular; surface green, overspread with suffused gray net veinings, sometimes bronze blush; dots distinct, numerous, large, white, suffused; cavity nearly flat, radiating russet patch; stem about one-half inch long, stout, with peculiar fleshy protuberances next to cavity; basin very shallow, irregular, narrow, fine wrinkles. Core wide open, distant; cells elliptical, abaxile, slit; tube funnel-shaped; stamens median; seeds short, plump; flesh rather dry, sweet, fair. September.