Red Republican

Apple

Red Republican

Origin/History

Originated in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. (Downing; confirmed by Thomas as Pennsylvania origin.)

Tree

Vigorous, spreading habit, moderately productive. (Downing)

Fruit

Size and Form: Huge (Downing) / large (Thomas), roundish oblate.

Stem: Short, set in a large cavity.

Cavity: Large.

Calyx: Closed.

Basin: Broad, deep, and furrowed.

Skin: Yellowish ground, striped and shaded with red, sprinkled with large whitish dots.

Flesh/Flavor: Coarse, tender, juicy, subacid. Overall quality rated Good. (Downing)

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Thomas lists this as an autumn variety. Downing gives December–January. These may reflect harvest versus use/keeping season respectively, or represent genuine disagreement between sources.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Red Republican.

Origin, Lycoming Co., Pa. Tree vigorous, spreading, moderately productive.

Fruit huge, roundish oblate. Skin yellowish, striped and shaded with red, and sprinkled with large whitish dots. Stalk short, in a large cavity. Calyx closed. Basin broad, deep, and furrowed. Good. Flesh coarse, tender, juicy, subacid. December, January.

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

Red Republican. Large, roundish-oblate, striped; coarse: sub-acid. Autumn. Pa.

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

Republican Pippin