Pawpaw

Apple

Pawpaw

Origin / History

Originated at Paw Paw, Michigan (Downing; Beach). Elliott gives the origin more specifically as "Little Bain Ronde, Mich." It has long been cultivated in Michigan to a limited extent but is practically unknown to New York fruit growers (Beach). First noted in pomological literature in 1858 (Horticulturist, 13:149). Esteemed in its place of origin for its productiveness and beauty of appearance (Downing).

Tree

Hardy, a good and regular bearer (Downing). Beach describes it as a hardy, moderate grower and regular bearer that must have suitable soil and good culture; not recommended for planting in New York state. Young shoots dull grayish reddish brown (Downing).

Fruit

Size: Downing and Elliott both describe the fruit as medium; Beach describes it as large.

Form: Roundish or somewhat oblong, inclined to conic, faintly ribbed; axis slightly oblique; sides unequal (Beach). Downing similarly gives roundish oblong, slightly oblique.

Stem: Medium in length, moderately slender (Beach). Downing gives medium.

Cavity: Deep (Downing; Beach). Width is described conflictingly: Downing gives narrow; Beach gives rather broad. Beach adds: acuminate, compressed, irregularly russeted.

Calyx: Medium in size, slightly open (Beach); Downing gives partially open, with segments a little recurved.

Basin: Medium in depth and width, somewhat abrupt, slightly furrowed and wrinkled, compressed (Beach).

Skin: Smooth, rather glossy (Beach), yellow, overspread and mottled with attractive red, irregularly splashed and striped with carmine (Beach); Downing describes it as yellow, shaded and mostly overspread with bright rich red, faintly splashed and mottled. Elliott gives red, obscurely striped. Prevailing color red (Beach). Dots moderately numerous, variable in size, russet or light colored, rather conspicuous, often areolar (Beach); Downing describes them as moderately sprinkled with areole dots.

Flesh / Flavor: Tinged with yellow (Beach; Downing gives yellowish), firm, moderately fine-grained, rather tender, juicy, subacid (Beach). Downing adds rich, brisk; Elliott describes the flavor as mild sub-acid, sprightly. Quality rated very good (Downing) to good to very good (Beach).

Core / Seeds: Calyx tube short, conical. Stamens basal. Core medium in size, axile; cells closed or partly open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels broadly roundish, slightly emarginate, slightly tufted. Seeds numerous, above medium size, rather wide, plump, acute, irregular, somewhat tufted, rather dark brown (Beach).

Season

December to June (Downing; Beach). A late-keeping winter apple (Beach).

Uses

Grown for its productiveness and attractive appearance (Downing). Valued as a late-keeping winter variety (Beach).

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

USDA Nomenclature (1905)

From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56

Possibly identical with: Rubicon, Pawpaw

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois

Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913

View original book sources (3)

Pawpaw.

Western Baldwin. Rubicon. Ball Apple.

Origin, Pawpaw, Mich. Tree hardy, a good and regular bearer. Young shoots dull grayish reddish brown.

A new Apple, esteemed in its place of origin for its productiveness and beauty of appearance.

Fruit medium, roundish oblong, slightly oblique, yellow, shaded and mostly overspread with bright rich red, faintly splashed and mottled, moderately sprinkled with areole dots. Stalk medium. Cavity deep, narrow. Calyx partially open. Segments a little recurved. Flesh yellowish, juicy, firm, rich, brisk subacid. Very good. December to June.

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

PAWPAW.

REFERENCES. 1. Horticulturist, 13:149. 1858. 2. Warder, 1867:728. 3. Downing, 1869:299. 4. Thomas, 1875:508. 5. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:296. 6. Farrand, Mich. Sta. Bul., 205:42. 1903.

SYNONYMS. Ball Apple (3). PAWPAW SEEDLING (1). Rubicon (3, 5). Western Baldwin (3).

A late-keeping winter apple of medium size, attractive red color and good quality. A hardy, moderate grower and regular bearer; must have suitable soil and good culture (5). It is not recommended for planting in this state.

Historical. Origin Paw Paw, Michigan (1, 3). It has long been cultivated in Michigan to a limited extent, but is practically unknown to New York fruit growers.

FRUIT.

Fruit large. Form roundish or somewhat oblong, inclined to conic, faintly ribbed; axis slightly oblique; sides unequal. Stem medium in length, moderately slender. Cavity acuminate, deep, rather broad, compressed, irregularly russeted. Calyx medium in size, slightly open. Basin medium in depth and width, somewhat abrupt, slightly furrowed and wrinkled, compressed. Skin smooth, rather glossy, yellow overspread and mottled with attractive red irregularly splashed and striped with carmine. Dots moderately numerous, variable in size, russet or light colored, rather conspicuous, often areolar. Prevailing color red. Calyx tube short, conical. Stamens basal. Core medium in size, axile; cells closed or partly open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels broadly roundish, slightly emarginate, slightly tufted. Seeds numerous, above medium size, rather wide, plump, acute, irregular, somewhat tufted, rather dark brown. Flesh tinged with yellow, firm, moderately fine-grained, rather tender, juicy, subacid, good to very good. Season December to June.

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

Pawpaw.

Originated Little Bain, Ronde, Mich. Size, medium ; color, red, obscurely striped ; flesh, yellowish, juicy, mild sub-acid ; sprightly.

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

Ball Apple Pawpaw Seedling Rubicon Western Baldwin