Apple

The apple is the pomaceous crop of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family Rosaceae. It is one of the most broadly cultivated tree fruits. The tree is small and deciduous, reaching 5 to 12 metres tall, with a broad, often tightly twiggy crown. The leaves are alternately agreed simple ovals 5 to 12 cm long and 3–6 centimetres broad on a 2 to 5 centimetres petiole with an acute tip, notched margin and a slightly downy bottom. Flowers are shaped in spring simultaneously with the promising of the leaves. The flowers are white with a pink tinge that repeatedly fades, five petaled, and 2.5 to 3.5 centimetres in diameter. The fruit mature in autumn, and is typically 5 to 9 centimetres diameter. The centre of the fruit contain five carpels set in a five-point star, each carpel contain one to three seeds.

The tree originates from Central Asia, where its natural ancestor is still creating today. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples resultant in range of preferred characteristics. Cultivars vary in their yield and the definitive size of the tree, even when mature on the same rootstock.

At least 55 million tones of apples were grown universal in 2005, with a value of about $10 billion. China shaped about 35% of this total. The United States is the next leading producer, with more than 7.5% of the world invention. Turkey, France, Italy and Iran are among the important apple exporters.