Selma
AppleSelma
Origin/History
From Clark County, Ohio.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium to large, roundish flattened (Elliott, Downing). Thomas describes the fruit as rather large and roundish-oblate — consistent with the other sources but somewhat more emphatic in size.
Stem: Long.
Cavity: Narrow, deep.
Calyx: Small, closed.
Basin: Deep, abrupt.
Skin: Yellow, with pale russet patches especially around the stem; dull, faint red in sun.
Core: Medium. Capsules small. Seeds ovate.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish white, breaking, mild sub-acid. Rated "very good" by Elliott and Downing; Thomas rates it good.
Season
November to December (Elliott, Downing); December (Thomas).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Downing's description is drawn directly from Elliott (1865) and is not an independent observation.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Selma. From Clark Co., O. Fruit medium to large, roundish flattened, yellow, with pale russet patches, especially around the stem, dull faint red in sun. Flesh yellowish white, breaking, mild subacid. Very good. November, December. (Elliott.)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Selma.
From Clark County, O. Fruit, medium to large, roundish flattened yellow, with pale russet patches, especially around stem, dull, faint red in sun ; stem, long ; cavity, narrow, deep ; calyx, small, closed ; basin, deep, abrupt ; core, medium ; capsules, small ; seeds, ovate ; flesh, yellowish white, breaking, mild sub-acid ; "very good." November to December.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Selma. Rather large, roundish-oblate, yellow, russet, and dull red; mild sub-acid, good. December. Ohio.