White Rambo
AppleOrigin & History
Originated in Huntington County, Pennsylvania (Downing). The variety became considerably grown and esteemed in central southern Ohio (Elliott), and Thomas also associates it with Ohio.
Tree
Tree of medium growth with remarkably slender branches. Very productive (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Medium to large. Downing describes the fruit as medium; Thomas as "rather large or medium"; Elliott as large.
Form: Roundish-oblate, approaching conical. Downing describes it as oblate, approaching conic; Elliott as roundish, flattened at ends; Thomas as roundish-oblate, remotely conical.
Stem: Downing describes the stalk as short; Elliott describes the stem as stout.
Cavity: Russeted (Downing). Broad and open (Elliott). Large (Thomas).
Calyx: Closed (Downing). Large, with segments in divisions (Elliott).
Basin: Sources disagree: Downing describes the basin as shallow, surrounded by prominences; Elliott describes it as large, open, and deep. Thomas describes it as wide.
Skin: Yellowish white (Downing). Elliott describes the skin as rough, yellow, with russet dots and spots which in the sun are of a reddish tinge. Thomas describes it as greenish yellow, becoming yellow.
Flesh & Flavor: Flesh yellowish with a mild subacid flavor. Sources disagree on texture: Downing describes the flesh as fine; Elliott describes it as rather coarse and breaking. Quality ratings also differ: Downing rates it "Good"; both Elliott and Thomas rate it "very good."
Core & Seeds: Core small. Seeds round ovate, plump (Elliott).
Season
November (Downing). November to February (Elliott). Early winter (Thomas).
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes & Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Lowther's Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914) lists this variety in a coded characteristic table:
White Ramo.................. M rob gy G m G .... 2* ....
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)White Rambo.
Origin, Huntington Co., Pa. Tree of medium growth. Branches remarkably slender. Very productive.
Fruit medium, oblate, approaching conic, yellowish white. Stalk short, in a russeted cavity. Calyx closed. Basin shallow, surrounded by prominences. Flesh yellowish, fine, pleasant subacid. Good. Core small. November.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)White Ramo.................. M rob gy G m G .... 2* ....
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)White Rambo.
Considerably grown and esteemed in Central Southern Ohio. Fruit, large, roundish, flattened at ends; skin, rough, yellow, russet dots and spots, which, in sun, are of a reddish tinge; stem, stout; cavity, broad, open; calyx, large; segments, in divisions; basin, large, open, deep; core, small; seeds, round ovate, plump; flesh, yellowish, rather coarse, breaking, mild sub-acid; "very good." November to February.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)White Rambo. Rather large or medium, roundish-oblate, remotely conical; skin greenish yellow, becoming yellow; cavity large; basin wide; flesh yellowish, with a mild sub-acid, "very good" flavor. Early winter. Ohio.