Showy Crab
Crab Apple
Showy Crab
Origin/History
Known also by the name Spectabilis in Desportes's 1856 listing. No further origin or history described in sources.
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size: About three-fourths of an inch high and three-fourths of an inch in diameter (Desportes); described as small (Downing).
Form: Sources conflict. Desportes describes the form as very irregular, almost square. Downing describes it as roundish oval.
Stem: Three and a half inches long, large at the upper part, large and fleshy at the base, inserted at the surface and crowded by wrinkles (Desportes). Downing independently confirms the stalk is very long.
Cavity: Formed by small wrinkles, irregular (Desportes).
Calyx: Very broad, with large, profound segments, numerous and projecting out the surface; the cavity formed by small wrinkles, irregular (Desportes).
Basin: Not described in sources.
Skin: Yellow in ground color, slightly spotted with rose on the sunny side, and speckled with white dots upon the surface (Desportes). Downing similarly describes the skin as yellow, dotted with red in the sun.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh dry (Downing).
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Not described in sources.
Uses
Not valuable (Downing).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— B. Desportes, The Horticulturist (1856)No. 9. The Showy Crab — Spectabilis. Fruit, about three-fourths of an inch high, and three-fourths of an inch in diameter; form, very irregular, almost square; stalk, three and a half inches long, large at the upper part, large, fleshy at the base, inserted at the surface and crowded by wrinkles ; eye or calyx, very broad, large profound segments, numerous and out the surface; the cavity is formed by small wrinkles, irregular; yellow color, slightly spotted with rose on the sunny side, speckled with white dots upon the surface.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Showy Crab.
Fruit small, roundish oval, yellow, dotted with red in sun. Stalk very long. Flesh dry. Not valuable.