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Limbertwig

Apple
USDA watercolor illustration of Limbertwig

USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Limbertwig

Origin / History

Origin supposed North Carolina (Downing); Thomas gives North Carolina. Hedrick calls the origin unknown, the earliest notice being that of Kenrick in 1832. The name comes from the ill-shapen tree with pendent branches, whence its name (Thomas).

Warder calls it a well-known southern apple, much cultivated in many parts of the West as a long-keeping winter variety. In his account it is a favorite with the southern immigrants and most abundant in the regions occupied by them, though it has been carried pretty far to the north. Downing calls it much cultivated South and West. Thomas says it is cultivated in the South and West for its keeping properties. Elliott calls it "a valuable fruit in Southern Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana." Hedrick calls it rather popular in southern latitudes.

Beach finds the small or red Limbertwig practically unknown among New York fruit growers except in some localities in the southeastern portions of the state. The large or green Limbertwig, so far as he knows, is not grown in New York. Lowther's table records the variety from the Northern Division with a report of 3, and notes it as reported in another division as well.

The name has been applied loosely. Hedrick calls Limbertwig a rather common appellation for apples having willowy twigs, and says possibly a dozen varieties have been so called in different parts of America. He adds that the name belongs properly to a variety producing a medium-sized, deep-red, late-keeping apple. Beach says several different apples are known locally under the name. Willow Twig is sometimes incorrectly called Limbertwig, as some writers have noted (Beach), and Thomas holds Limbertwig distinct from the Willow Twig. Warder says the name James River, as given by Downing, is not met with among the people as applied to this apple, but the Willow Twig is often so named.

In Northern New York an apple probably of local origin goes under the name Limbertwig. It is of the Blue Pearmain class and resembles Bethel in form and color, but its flesh is coarser and has more acidity; it is a good keeper. In some portions of Western New York the Twenty Ounce is called Limbertwig (Beach).

Tree

Thrifty and hardy; vigorous (Hedrick). Roundish, spreading, somewhat drooping; Thomas calls it ill shapen, with pendent branches. Shoots and laterals slender, becoming drooping, the branches usually bending in season with the heavy crops. Productive to exceedingly productive (Warder); an excellent cropper (Beach). The fruit hangs well to the tree despite high winds (Beach).

Fruit

Size: About medium, the recorded range running from small to large. Most authors place it between medium to small and medium or above. Beach gives above medium to below, the fruit pretty uniform in size and shape. Elliott and Thomas call it large.

Form: Roundish to roundish oblate, somewhat conic, tapering a little to the eye. Ribbed but slightly if at all; symmetrical and regular.

Stem: Medium in length and thickness, curved (Warder), usually not exserted (Beach). Elliott and Thomas call it long and slender.

Cavity: Deep, acute to acuminate, broad or rather broad to moderately narrow, smooth or gently furrowed. Surrounded by thin green russet, or sometimes partly russeted; Warder calls it brown. Elliott calls it open, funnel-shaped, and russeted.

Calyx: Small to medium. Closed or partly open (Beach), half open (Budd and Hansen); Downing calls it closed and Warder open. Lobes short, broad, flat or sometimes recurved. Beach gives the calyx tube cone-shaped to elongated funnel-form, with stamens median or above.

Basin: Small to medium, moderately narrow, varying from shallow and obtuse to moderately deep and somewhat abrupt, often a little furrowed. Downing calls it uneven and Elliott irregular and round; Warder calls it regular.

Skin: Yellow, greenish yellow, or green, largely covered or mixed with dull red or dull purplish red, deepening in the sun to dark purplish red. Sparingly and obscurely striped with darker red or dull carmine, the stripes scarcely to be traced (Warder); Downing gives it shaded and striped with dull crimson. Sometimes marked with broken, irregular russet veins (Beach). Prevailing effect an attractive dark red, a good deep red; Lowther gives the color as yellow-red. Beach calls the skin slightly roughened by its dots; Warder calls the surface rather smooth. Thomas describes it as striped and splashed with red on yellow. Elliott gives light yellow, striped and splashed with red in the sun, with an occasional patch of russet.

Dots: Numerous, large, irregular, rather conspicuous, russet, brown, or light brown; Downing calls them light dots. Elliott describes rough russet specks.

Flesh and flavor: Whitish (Elliott, Downing) to yellowish or greenish yellow (Warder). Firm to very firm, hard, very compact, not very tender, moderately fine, not very crisp, juicy; Elliott calls it tender. Flavor subacid, brisk, rich, aromatic; Thomas calls it "not high flavored." Most authors rate the quality "good." Elliott and Warder rate it "very good," while Beach also calls the quality "only fair to good."

Core and seeds: Core rather small to medium, sessile, abaxile or nearly so (Beach). Warder calls it rather large, regular, turbinate, closed, with clasping core lines; Elliott calls it large and hollow. Cells not uniformly developed, pretty symmetrical, closed or slightly open; core lines clasping. Carpels concave, elliptical, deeply emarginate, much tufted (Beach). Seeds numerous, medium to small, elongated or long, plump, obtuse to acute; Beach adds much tufted and clinging to the carpels. Elliott calls the seeds plump and pyriform.

Season

A winter apple, late winter and spring, the recorded season running from January into May. Warder gives the latest start, March and April. Elliott says it keeps to May, and Hedrick that the fruit keeps from April until May. Beach says it is well adapted for storage and keeps late, holding in cold storage from February to May or later. Warder says it keeps very well but wilts if exposed to the air, and is preserved very well in the ground.

Uses

Table and kitchen (Warder). A market apple (Lowther) that ships well (Beach).

Subtypes / Variants

Beach distinguishes two Limbertwigs. The small or red Limbertwig is the variety described above. He refers the descriptions of Emmons (1851), Downing (1857), Warder (1867), Lyon (1890), and Budd and Hansen (1903) to the red form, and those of Thomas (1849) and Elliott (1854) to the green. He says Phoenix (1850), Hooper (1857), and an 1896 station bulletin mention both, and that in most instances it is not clear which variety is referred to.

The large or green Limbertwig, compared with the red, has fruit much the larger but does not keep as well. It is decidedly less attractive. Skin dull green, partly overspread with dull brownish red, marked over the base with whitish scarf-skin, sometimes with a few irregular patches or streaks of russet. Dots coarse, conspicuous, usually areolar with a russet point. Cavity large, acute or approaching acuminate, wide, deep, somewhat furrowed. Calyx tube cone-shaped to somewhat funnel-form. Stamens median. Core medium to rather large, axile; cells symmetrical, closed; core lines meeting or somewhat clasping. Carpels smooth or nearly so, elliptical to broadly obcordate, deeply emarginate. Seeds rather large to medium, rather wide, obtuse, smooth or nearly so, free. Flesh subacid, coarser and more juicy than the red, and much inferior in flavor and quality.

Elliott refers the reader to Willow Twig and others for varieties of Limbertwig.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 8 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 12 catalogs (1886–1913) from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Missouri, Oregon, Virginia, Washington

View original book sources (8)

Limber Twig. James River. A valuable fruit in Southern Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Tree, hardy, productive. Fruit, large, roundish, tapering a little to the eye ; light yellow, striped and splashed with red in sun, rough russet specks, and occasional patch of russet ; stem, long, slender ; cavity, open, funnel shape, russeted ; calyx, rather small ; basin, irregular, round ; core, large, hollow ; seeds, plump, pyriform ; flesh, whitish, tender, sub-acid ; "very good." Keeps to May. For varieties of this, see Willow Twig, &c.

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

Limbertwig.

This well known southern apple is much cultivated in many parts of the West as a long keeping winter variety. It is a favorite with the southern immigrants, and found most abundant in regions occupied by them, but it has been carried pretty far to the north. The synonym James River, as given by Downing, is not met with among the people as applied to this apple, but the Willow Twig is often so named.

Tree thrifty, exceedingly productive; Shoots slender and drooping with the heavy crops.

Fruit medium to small, roundish conic, regular; Surface rather smooth, mixed dull purplish red, on green, stripes scarcely to be traced; Dots numerous, large, irregular, brown.

Basin medium, regular; Eye small, open.

Cavity deep, acute, brown; Stem medium, curved.

Core rather large, regular, turbinate, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, small, plump, long; Flesh greenish-yellow, firm; Flavor sub-acid, rich, aromatic; Quality very good; Use, table and kitchen; Season, March and April. Keeps very well, but wilts if exposed to the air—preserved very well in the ground.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Limber Twig.

James River. Red Limber Twig ?

An Apple much cultivated South and West. Origin, supposed North Carolina. Tree hardy and productive, roundish, spreading, somewhat drooping.

Fruit medium or above, roundish oblate, inclining to conic, greenish yellow, shaded and striped with dull crimson, and sprinkled with light dots. Stalk of medium length, inserted in a broad, deep cavity, surrounded by thin, green russet. Calyx closed, set in a small, uneven basin. Flesh whitish, not very tender, juicy, with a brisk, subacid flavor. Good. January, April.

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

Limbertwig.* (James River.) Large, roundish, slightly conical; striped and splashed with red on yellow; stalk long, slender, calyx rather small; flesh yellowish, very compact, not high flavored, but cultivated in the South and West for its keeping properties. The tree is ill shapen, with pendent branches, whence its name. Distinct from the Willow Twig. North Carolina.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

LIMBERTWIG.

REFERENCES. 1. Kenrick, 1832:59. 2. Thomas, 1849:168. 3. Phoenix, Horticulturist, 4:471. 1850. 4. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:67. 1851. 5. Elliott, 1854:143. 6. Robey, Horticulturist, 11:89. 1856. 7. Downing, 1857:164. 8. Hooper, 1857:54. 9. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1860. 10. Warder, 1867:516. fig. 11. Fitz, 1872:143, 149. 12. Leroy, 1873:420. fig. 13. Barry, 1883:348. 14. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:294. 15. Wickson, 1891:248. 16. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:243. 17. Clayton, Ala. Sta. Bul., 47:7. 1893. 18. Stinson, Ark. Sta. An. Rpt., 7:47. 1894. 19. W. Sta. Bul., 45:329. 1896. 20. Rural N. Y., 62:822. 1903. fig. 21. Budd-Hansen, 1903:115. 22. Bruner, N. C. Sta. Bul., 182:25. 1903. figs. 23. Farrand, Mich. Sta. Bul., 205:45. 1903. 24. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:47. 1903. 25. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:129. 1904.

SYNONYMS. James River (2, 5, 7). LAMBERTWIG (12). LIMBER TWIG (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23). Red Limbertwig (22).

There are several different apples which are known locally under the name Limbertwig. Willow Twig is sometimes incorrectly called Limbertwig, as has been noted by some writers (5, 14). There is an apple grown in Northern New York, probably of local origin, which is there known under the name of Limbertwig. This fruit is of the Blue Pearmain class and resembles Bethel in form and color but the flesh is coarser and has more acidity. It is a good keeper. In some portions of Western New York the Twenty Ounce is called Limbertwig.

The variety described below as the small or red Limbertwig appears to be practically unknown among New York fruit growers except in some localities in the southeastern portions of the state. That described as the large or green Limbertwig, so far as we know, is not grown in New York.

In some of the references above cited the writers appear to have clearly in mind the red Limbertwig (4, 7, 10, 14, 21); in other cases they evidently describe the green Limbertwig (2, 5); occasionally both are mentioned (3, 8, 19), but in most instances it is not clear which variety is referred to.

LIMBERTWIG (Small or red).

Fruit attractive in appearance, of good deep red color, pretty uniform in size, well adapted for storage, ships well and keeps late, but the quality is only fair to good. The tree is thrifty and an excellent cropper and the fruit hangs well to the tree despite high winds (8, 10, 20); laterals slender becoming drooping with heavy crops.

FRUIT.

Fruit above medium to below; uniform in size and shape. Form roundish to slightly oblate conic, ribbed but slightly if at all, symmetrical and regular. Stem medium in length and thickness, usually not exserted. Cavity acuminate, deep, rather broad to moderately narrow, sometimes partly russeted, smooth or gently furrowed. Calyx small to medium, closed or partly open; lobes short, broad, flat or sometimes recurved. Basin small, moderately narrow, varying from shallow and obtuse to moderately deep and somewhat abrupt, often a little furrowed.

Skin slightly roughened with numerous and rather conspicuous russet dots, yellow largely covered with red, deepening in the sun to dark purplish-red, sparingly and obscurely striped with dull carmine, sometimes marked with broken irregular russet veins. Prevailing effect attractive dark red.

Calyx tube cone-shape to elongated funnel-form. Stamens median or above.

Core sessile, abaxile or nearly so, rather small to medium; cells not uniformly developed, pretty symmetrical, closed or slightly open; core lines clasping. Carpels concave, elliptical, deeply emarginate, much tufted. Seeds numerous, elongated, medium to small, plump, obtuse to acute, much tufted, clinging to the carpels.

Flesh yellowish, hard, moderately fine, not very crisp, juicy, aromatic, subacid, good.

Season January to March or April; in cold storage February to May or later.

LIMBERTWIG (Large or green).

As compared with the variety last described the fruit of the large or green Limbertwig is much the larger but it does not keep as well. It is decidedly less attractive being dull green partly overspread with dull brownish-red, marked over the base with whitish scarf-skin and sometimes with a few irregular patches or streaks of russet. Dots coarse, conspicuous, usually areolar with russet point.

Cavity large, acute or approaching acuminate, wide, deep, somewhat furrowed. Calyx tube cone-shape to somewhat funnel-form. Stamens median. Core medium to rather large, axile; cells symmetrical, closed; core lines meeting or somewhat clasping. Carpels smooth or nearly so, elliptical to broadly obcordate, deeply emarginate. Seeds rather large to medium, rather wide, obtuse, smooth or nearly so, free. Flesh subacid, coarser and more juicy than the other and much inferior in flavor and quality.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

Limbertwig. — Supposed origin, North Carolina; tree thrifty, very productive, roundish, spreading, the slender shoots drooping with the heavy crop.

Fruit rather small to medium, roundish oblate, somewhat conical, regular; surface yellowish green covered with dull red, with obscure darker stripes; dots many, large, light brown, irregular; cavity broad, deep, acute, green and russet; stem medium; basin small, shallow, uneven; calyx small, half open. Core closed; seeds many, small, plump, long; flesh greenish yellow, very firm, juicy, brisk, rich, aromatic subacid, good. Late winter and spring.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

Limber Twig: size medium; form roundish (oblate); color yellow-red; quality good; use market; season winter; Northern Division reports 3 (also reported in another division).

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

LIMBERTWIG. James River. Limbertwig is a rather common appellation for varieties of apples having willowy twigs. Possibly a dozen varieties have been so called in different parts of America, but the name belongs properly to a variety producing a medium-sized, deep-red, late-keeping apple rather popular in southern latitudes. The tree is vigorous and productive, its slender branches usually bending in season with a heavy crop. The fruit keeps from April until May. The origin of Limbertwig is not known; the earliest notice is that of Kenrick in 1832. Tree thrifty, productive, fruit hanging well to the tree; laterals slender becoming drooping with heavy crops. Fruit medium, uniform in size and shape, round to oblate-conic, symmetrical and regular; stem medium in length and thickness, usually not exserted; cavity acuminate, deep, broad, sometimes russeted, smooth or gently furrowed; calyx small, closed or partly open; lobes short, broad, sometimes recurved; basin small, narrow, shallow and obtuse or deep and abrupt, often furrowed; skin roughened with numerous conspicuous russet dots, yellow covered with red, deepening in the sun to dark red, obscurely striped with dull carmine, sometimes marked with broken russet veins; prevailing effect dark red; calyx-tube cone-shape; stamens median; core sessile, abaxile, small; cells not uniformly developed, symmetrical, closed or open; core-lines clasping; carpels concave, elliptical, deeply emarginate, much tufted; seeds numerous, elongated, small, plump, obtuse, much tufted, clinging to the carpels; flesh yellow, firm, fine, juicy, aromatic, subacid; good; January to April.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)
James River Lambertwig Limber Twig Red Limber Twig Red Limbertwig Willow