|
The Ultralight
Backpacking Site |
Wild Apple
Malus species
Description
Most wild apples look enough like domestic
apples that the survivor can easily recognize them. Wild apple
varieties are much smaller than cultivated kinds; the largest
kinds usually do not exceed 5 to 7.5 centimeters in diameter,
and most often less. They have small, alternate, simple leaves
and often have thorns. Their flowers are white or pink and their
fruits reddish or yellowish.
Habitat and Distribution
They are found in the savanna regions of
the tropics. In temperate areas, wild apple varieties are found
mainly in forested areas. Most frequently, they are found on
the edge of woods or in fields. They are found throughout the
Northern Hemisphere.
Edible Parts
Prepare wild apples for eating in the same
manner as cultivated kinds. Eat them fresh, when ripe, or cooked. Should you need to store food,
cut the apples into thin slices and dry them. They are a good
source of vitamins.
CAUTION
Apple seeds contain cyanide compounds. Do not eat.
Steve's notes:
Not normally found too deep in the wilderness,
wild apples aren't a great survival food. Still, they can be
a nice snack when you're hiking near old homesteads and ghost
towns.
Edible
Plants | Wild Apple |