[MAIPC] Crab Apples Native Vx. Invasive

[Nathan Hartshorne]

I've struggled with this as well and spent awhile trying to get it right
and never got anywhere.  If I recall correctly, they hybridize, so it's a
real spectrum that's hard to diagnose, and that one feature you mentioned
didn't do much for me. It doesn't help that at least some native nurseries
don't even seem to realize this is a thing and it's just "malus spp."  On
the bright side, according to Tallamy, they are interchangeable as a host
plant for caterpillars, at least in species numbers, if not volume of
insects.

On Wed, Dec 1, 2021 at 12:47 PM Greenberg, Patricia <
Patricia.Greenberg at fairfaxcounty.gov> wrote:

> Hi,
>
>
>
> Can anyone on this email group help respond to these questions:
>
> How do we best distinguish the American native crabapples from Asian ones?
> According to Flora of Virginia, it looks like a main character is
> thorn-like branches coming off of the American ones. Is there a better
> “clincher” that you know of?
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
>
>
>
> *Patricia Pearl Greenberg Ecologist II*
>
> *Invasive Management Area Program Manager*
>
> *Natural Resource Branch*
>
> *Fairfax County Park Authority*
>
> *Office: 703-324-8673*
>
> *Fax: 703-324-3996*
>
> patricia.greenberg at fairfaxcounty.gov
>
> *(She/Her)*
>
>
>
> *ISA Certified Arborist,* *MA-6067A*
>
> *ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified*
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> MAIPC at lists.maipc.org
> http://lists.maipc.org/listinfo.cgi/maipc-maipc.org
>
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