Apple
Description

The apple is a deciduous tree, generally standing 2 to 4.5 metres (6 to 15 feet) tall in cultivation and up to 15 m (49 ft) in the wild, though more typically 2 to 10 m (6.5 to 33 ft). When cultivated, the size, shape and branch density are determined by rootstock selection and trimming method. Apple trees may naturally have a rounded to erect crown with a dense canopy of leaves. The bark of the trunk is dark gray or gray-brown, but young branches are reddish or dark-brown with a smooth texture. When young twigs are covered in very fine downy hairs and become hairless as they become older.

The buds are egg shaped and dark red or purple in color and range in size from 3 to 5 millimeters, but usually less than 4 mm. The bud scales have very hairy edges. When emerging from the buds the leaves are convolute, that is their edges overlap each other. The shape is ranges from simple ovals (elliptic) medium or wide in width, somewhat egg shaped with the wider portion toward their base (ovate) or even with sides that are more parallel to each other instead of curved (oblong) with a narrow pointed end. The edges have broadly angled teeth, but do not have lobes. The top surface of the leaves are glabrescent, almost hairless, while the undersides are densely covered in fine hairs. The leaves are attached alternately by short leaf stems 1-to-3.5 cm (1 ⁄ 2 -to- 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 in) long.

Blossoms are produced in spring simultaneously with the budding of the leaves and are produced on spurs and some long shoots. When the flower buds first begin to open the petals are rose-pink and fade to white or light pink when fully open with each flower 3-to-4-centimeter (1-to- 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 -inch) in diameter. The five petaled flowers are group in an inflorescence consisting of a cyme with 4–6 flowers. The central flower of the inflorescence is called the "king bloom"; it opens first and can develop a larger fruit.
language:response_language[Spanish], punctuation:no_comma, detectable_format:constrained_response