Long Stem Of Pennsylvania
AppleLong Stem Of Pennsylvania
Origin / History
Long Stem Of Pennsylvania is from Berks County, Pennsylvania (Thomas). Dr. Brinckle described it in 1853 as a new variety (Magazine of Horticulture, 19:169). Beach's references also cite Downing, 1857; Warder, 1867; and Thomas, 1885. Beach says it is but seldom found in New York and is not recommended for planting in that state. Other varieties cultivated under the name Long Stem are noticed by Beach in Volume II.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Rather small (Thomas) to below medium (Beach).
Form: Roundish inclined to cylindrical, ribbed but faintly if at all; Thomas says roundish-oval.
Stem: Long to very long, slender, bracted; curved (Thomas).
Cavity: Medium to rather small, acuminate, rather narrow to moderately wide, usually smooth (Beach); Thomas alone calls it large.
Calyx: Medium to rather large; lobes often leafy, elongated, obtuse. Calyx tube funnel-form approaching cylindrical, with pistil point extending into the base. Stamens median or above.
Basin: Shallow to very shallow, narrow, furrowed and wrinkled.
Skin: Smooth, pale yellow or greenish, nearly covered with thin red and faintly marked with narrow stripes of carmine. Thomas describes it as shaded and slightly striped with red or crimson on yellow.
Dots: Numerous, gray or russet.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh tinged with yellow or greenish, firm, crisp, rather tender, juicy to very juicy, moderately fine-grained. Flavor sprightly subacid; Thomas calls the flesh tender and crisp, with a "rich, aromatic, sub-acid, excellent flavor." Quality good to very good (Beach).
Core and seeds: Core large, abaxile; cells symmetrical, open; core lines clasp the funnel cylinder. Carpels smooth, much concave, elongated approaching oval, slightly emarginate. Seeds very numerous, below medium to rather large, obtuse to acute, variable, plump, moderately wide.
Season
November to February.
Uses
A fine dessert fruit (Thomas).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Long Stem of Pennsylvania. Rather small, roundish-oval; shaded and slightly striped with red or crimson on yellow; stalk long, slender, curved, cavity large; basin somewhat furrowed; flesh tender, crisp, with a rich, aromatic, sub-acid, excellent flavor. Berks Co., Pa. A fine dessert fruit.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)LONG STEM OF PENNSYLVANIA.
REFERENCES. 1. Brinckle, Mag. Hort., 19:169. 1853. 2. Downing, 1857:86. 3. Warder, 1867:725. 4. Thomas, 1885:236.
A Pennsylvania apple described by Dr. Brinckle in 1853 as a new variety (1). It is but seldom found in New York and is not recommended for planting in this state.
Other varieties which have been cultivated under the name of Long Stem will be noticed in Volume II.
FRUIT.
Fruit below medium in size. Form roundish inclined to cylindrical, ribbed but faintly if at all. Stem long to very long, slender, bracted. Cavity medium to rather small, acuminate, rather narrow to moderately wide, usually smooth. Calyx medium to rather large; lobes often leafy, elongated, obtuse. Basin shallow to very shallow, narrow, furrowed and wrinkled.
Skin smooth, pale yellow or greenish, nearly covered with thin red and faintly marked with narrow stripes of carmine. Dots numerous, gray or russet.
Calyx tube funnel-form approaching cylindrical, with pistil point extending into the base. Stamens median or above.
Core large, abaxile; cells symmetrical, open; core lines clasp the funnel cylinder. Carpels smooth, much concave, elongated approaching oval, slightly emarginate. Seeds very numerous, below medium to rather large, obtuse to acute, variable, plump, moderately wide.
Flesh tinged with yellow or greenish, firm, crisp, rather tender, juicy to very juicy, moderately fine-grained, sprightly subacid, good to very good.
Season November to February.