ROSACEAE

ROSE FAMILY

Annual to tree
Leaves simple to pinnately to palmately compound, generally alternate; stipules free to fused, persistent to deciduous
Inflorescence: cyme, raceme, panicle, or flowers solitary
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium free or fused to ovary, saucer- to funnel-shaped, often with bractlets alternate with sepals; sepals generally 5; petals generally 5, free; stamens (0)5–many, pistils (0)1–many, simple or compound; ovary superior to inferior, styles 1–5
Fruit: achene, follicle, drupe, pome, or blackberry- to raspberry-like
Seeds generally 1–5
Genera in family: 110 genera, ± 3000 species: worldwide, especially temp. Many cultivated for ornamental and fruit, especially Cotoneaster , Fragaria , Malus , Prunus , Pyracantha, Rosa , and Rubus
Reference: [Robertson 1974 J Arnold Arbor 55:303–332,344–401,611–662]
Family description, key to genera by Barbara Ertter and Dieter H. Wilken.

PERAPHYLLUM

WILD CRAB APPLE

Thomas J. Rosatti

Species in genus: 1 sp
Etymology: (Greek: very leafy)

Native

P. ramosissimum Nutt.

Shrub 1–3 m, much-branched
Leaves ± clustered on short lateral branches, deciduous, 2–4 cm; stipules soon deciduous; petiole 0–short; blade ± oblanceolate, pointed, strigose, entire to minutely gland-toothed
Inflorescence: flowers 1–3, pedicelled, on short lateral branches
Flower: hypanthium ± funnel-shaped, bractlets 0; sepals spreading to reflexed, 3–5 mm, hairy at least inside, persistent; petals spreading, 6–8 mm, ± obovate, white to rose; stamens ± 15–20, free; ovary 1, inferior, 4(6)-chambered, styles 2(3)
Fruit: pome, 8–10 mm, spheric, yellowish to reddish
Ecology: Dry washes, sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland, pine forest
Elevation: 1200–2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: e High Cascade Range, n&c High Sierra Nevada (e slope), Great Basin Floristic Province, Desert Mountains (Panamint Mtns)
Distribution outside California: to Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico
Flowering time: Apr–May
Horticultural information: DRN, SUN: 1, 2, 15, 16, 17 &IRR: 3, 7, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21.