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: The two sources differ. Downing describes the fruit as roundish oblate; Thomas describes it as flat, slightly conical, unequal, regular, and smooth.

Stem: Short.

Cavity: Shallow, regular, russeted. (Thomas)

Calyx: Closed. (Downing) Eye small and closed; basin shallow and regular. (Thomas)

Basin: Shallow, regular. (Thomas)

Skin: The two sources conflict on color and dots. Downing describes the skin as yellowish, shaded and indistinctly splashed with crimson, with large light dots. Thomas describes it as greenish yellow, with dots numerous, dark, and prominent — no crimson wash mentioned.

Flesh and Flavor: Flesh white. Downing: pleasant, mild subacid. Thomas: tender, juicy, sub-acid, rich.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

November. (Downing)

Uses

Not described in source. Downing rates the variety Good.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

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 (2)

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.

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

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.

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