Star
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Star Apple
Origin/History
An old variety grown in Dutchess County, New York. (Downing)
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Downing describes the fruit as roundish oblate. Thomas describes it as flat, slightly conical, unequal, regular, and smooth — the two accounts partially conflict on the conical element, though both agree the fruit is low and flattened in profile.
Stem: Short.
Cavity: Shallow, regular, russeted. (Thomas)
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Shallow, regular. (Thomas)
Skin: Downing describes the ground color as yellowish, shaded and indistinctly splashed with crimson, with large light dots. Thomas describes the color as greenish yellow, with dots numerous, dark, and prominent. The two accounts conflict on ground color (yellowish vs. greenish yellow) and on the dots (large and light vs. numerous and dark and prominent); Thomas makes no mention of crimson shading or splashing.
Flesh/Flavor: White, tender, juicy, subacid, rich. (Thomas adds tender, juicy, and rich; Downing characterizes the flavor as pleasant and mild subacid, and rates the variety Good.)
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
November. (Downing)
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Star. An old variety, grown in Dutchess Co., N. Y. Fruit medium, roundish oblate, yellowish, shaded and indistinctly splashed with crimson, large light dots. Stalk short. Calyx closed. Flesh white, pleasant, mild subacid. Good. November.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Star. Medium, flat, slightly conical, unequal, regular, smooth; greenish yellow; dots numerous, dark, prominent; basin shallow, regular, eye small, closed, cavity shallow, regular, russeted; stem short; flesh white, tender, juicy, sub-acid, rich.