Ostrakavis
AppleOstrakavis Apple
Origin & History
A seedling raised at the Iowa Experiment Station about 1888 from a cross of Ostrakoff × Ben Davis. One of several seedlings from this parentage. The variety name, Ostrakavis, suggests the parentage and was retained in case the variety proved valuable for propagation.
This seedling is notably interesting as demonstrating that a cross of two sour apples may produce a sweet apple.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size & Form
Medium or below; conical, regular.
Surface
Oily; color yellow with faint bronze blush.
Cavity
Regular, deep, obtuse; faint trace of russet.
Basin
Wide, very shallow, minutely wrinkled.
Core & Seeds
Core wide open, meeting; cells large, roomy, ovate, slit; tube funnel-shaped; stamens median. Seeds twelve, large, plump.
Flesh & Flavor
White, sweet.
Season
Probably late fall or early winter.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes & Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)Ostrakavis (Ostrakoff × Ben Davis)—One out of several seedlings of same parentage originated at Iowa Experiment Station about 1888. Ostrakavis may serve as a name suggesting the parentage, in case the variety proves valuable under propagation. Interesting as showing that a cross of two sour apples may produce a sweet apple—Fruit medium or below, conical, regular; surface oily, color yellow, with faint bronze blush; cavity regular, deep, obtuse, with faint trace of russet; basin wide very shallow, minutely wrinkled. Core wide open, meeting; cells large, roomy, ovate, slit; tube funnel-shaped; stamens median; seeds twelve, large, plump; flesh white, sweet. Season probably late fall or early winter.