Fama Gusta
Apple
Origin/History
Fama Gusta is an old English variety, said to have been imported from England and reputed to have originated on the Island of Cyprus. Coxe (1817) records it as having been brought from Cyprus. Downing (1900) describes it simply as "an old English sort."
Tree
The tree grows vigorously but in an unsightly form, shooting its branches irregularly in a horizontal direction (Coxe). Downing corroborates the vigor and characterizes the habit as straggling.
Bark, twigs, lenticels, buds, and leaves not described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large (Coxe, Elliott), or medium to large (Downing). Coxe notes a resemblance to the Yellow Bellflower in both shape and size. Elliott and Downing both describe the form as conical; Downing specifies roundish oblong conical.
Stem: Long and strongly attached both to the twig and to the fruit (Coxe). The stem is inserted in a deep and singularly guttered cavity (Coxe).
Cavity: Deep and singularly guttered (Coxe). Not described in the other sources.
Calyx: Not described in sources.
Basin: Not described in sources.
Skin: Smooth (Coxe). Color: Coxe and Elliott describe the skin as pale green; Downing, writing later, describes it as deep yellow with a faint red blush in the sun — a substantial disagreement, possibly reflecting a different strain, growing condition, or stage of ripeness at observation.
Flesh and Flavor: Coxe and Elliott agree on white flesh with acidity — Coxe adds that it is hard. Downing conflicts directly, describing the flesh as yellowish, tender, and sweet. These differences in color, texture, and flavor are irreconcilable across the three sources and may reflect distinct selections or ripening stages.
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Coxe and Elliott both give October. Downing gives November–December, suggesting a later-keeping character or a later-ripening strain.
Uses
Good for cooking (Downing).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 19. FAMA GUSTA.
Is an apple imported from England, of a large size, somewhat resembling the yellow Bellflower in shape and size. The skin is smooth, of a pale green colour; the flesh white and hard, with some acidity—the stalk is long, and strongly attached both to the twig and fruit; it is inserted in a deep and singularly guttered cavity: the tree grows vigorously, but in an unsightly form, shooting its branches irregularly in a horizontal direction: the time of ripening is October; this tree is said to have been brought from the Island of Cyprus.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Fama Gusta.
An old English sort. Tree vigorous, straggling in habit.
Fruit medium to large, roundish oblong conical, deep yellow, faint red in sun. Flesh yellowish, tender, sweet. Good for cooking. November, December.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Fama Gusta. Foreign. Large, conical, pale green ; flesh, white, acid. October.