Tree Identification… Western Crab Apple?

[Owen Lowe]

I have noticed this tree for years near a neighborhood athletic field and finally had enough wondering to ask others; especially after I noted that the tree has retained its leaves long after the surrounding maples, oaks, and sycamores have lost theirs or are about to (these pics were taken Nov. 26).

It stands about 20 feet tall and equally wide. The tender fruits are not sour with just a hint of sweetness - kinda mealy - with three seeds in each. I’m unsure if the twisting trunk is common to these trees. It kinda reminds me of hawthorns but the leaves are totally wrong and there are no thorns on this tree. I’ve looked through the Audubon North American Eastern and Western tree books with no definitive answer.

Given that this is growing in an urban field on the grounds of where a middle school once stood with an elementary school next door and is maintained for sports, it could be native to anywhere with a similar climate. If it is not native to the Pacific NW, then perhaps there is a story behind it that I’d like to explore.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[robo hippy]

No idea, but I wouldn't guess apple though. The fruit reminds me of rose hips. It almost looks like a laurel of some sort.

robo hippy

 

[Zach LaPerriere]

Wow, sure looks interesting. It doesn't look like the Pacific Crab Apple I'm familiar with. I've always seen five seeds in crab apple, and I think that's true for most if not all apples. The flowers in spring might give some clue.

If your municipality maintains the trees, you might talk with the groundskeeping department. Our local guys are a wealth of info and seem to know every ornamental tree in town and often the history of who planted the and when. Your groundskeepers might also be a great resource for some turning stock.

Good luck!

EDIT: This might sound crazy, but I found an ornamental vine at a remote, grown over homesite. A botanist was stumped, and I eventually figured out the species and variety by doing a Google image search, whereby you upload pictures to Google and some algorhythms match your picture against others: https://www.google.com/imghp

 

[Lyle Rawlins]

It appears to be an ornamental crab apple tree.

The farm I grew up on had one in our back yard.

While the apples are really sour my mother would make really delicious jelly from them.

The tree we had is still there but no one takes advantage of those tiny sour little apples.

I wonder what it would turn like but my sister who lives in the house now would notice if I cut it down.

Bye for now