[J] Villæ, p. 278.
7. API GROS.—Duh.
- Identification.—[Duh. Arb. Fr.] 1, 312. [Hort. Soc. Cat.] ed. 3.
- Synonymes.—Pomme Rose, [Quint. Traité], I. 203, but not of Knoop. Pomme d’Api Gros. [Ron. Pyr. Mal.] 39. Passe-rose, [Chart. Cat.] 55. Grosser Api, Rosenapi, [Diel Kernobst.] iv., 228. Api Rose. Doppelter Api, Acc. [Christ Handworter.] Rubenapfel, Ibid. Api Grand, Ibid.
- Figure.—[Ron. Pyr. Mal.] pl. xx. f. 1.
Fruit, below medium size, two inches and three quarters wide, and two inches high; oblate. Skin, pale green, changing as it ripens to pale yellow on the shaded side, and pale red, mottled with green, where exposed to the sun. Eye, small and closed, set in a shallow and plaited basin. Stalk, short, inserted in a wide, rather deep, and russety cavity. Flesh, greenish, tender, crisp, very juicy, and briskly flavored.
Suitable either for the dessert, or for culinary purposes; it is inferior to the Api and not a first-rate apple. In use from December to March. The tree has much similarity to the Api in its growth, and is a good bearer.
This is a variety of the preceding, and closely resembles it in all its parts, except that it is much larger. “La Pomme Rose resemble extremement partout son exterieur a la Pomme d’Apis, mais à mon goût elle ne la vaut pas quoy que puissent dire les curieux du Rhône, qui la veulent autant élever aussi au dessus des autres, qu’ils élevent la Poire Chat au dessus des autres Poires.”—De Quintinye.
8. API ETOILLE.—Diel.
- Identification.—[Diel. Kernobst.] B. iv. 31.
- Synonymes.—Pomme Etoillée, [Duh. Arb. Fr.] I. 312. Pomme d’Etoille, Ibid. Gelber Sternförmiger Api, [Diel Kernobst.] B. iv. 31. Sternapfel, [Christ Handworter], 106. [Hort. Soc. Cat.] ed. 3, n. 797.
This is a variety of the Api, from which it is distinguished by being very much flattened, and furnished with five very prominent angles on the sides, which give it the appearance of a star, hence its name. It is of a deep yellow on the shaded side, and redish orange next the sun. It is a well-flavored apple, but only of second-rate quality. It ripens about the middle or end of September.
The variety received under this name by the London Horticultural Society must have been incorrect, as in the last edition of their catalogue it is made synonymous with Api Petit.