Strange fruit

[littleblackfox]

I moved into a new place in North Lincs a couple of months ago, and there is a tree (not a giant tree, it's the same height as the wild cherry next to it) planted just out front on the roadside that for the life of me I can't identify. It has been in fruit throughout september, and they have been dropping over the last week or so.

The fruits form in small clusters in a way that reminds me of cherries, but the leaves look more plum-ish to me.

Anyone have any idea what it could be? And, most importantly, can it be fermented?!

Cack-handed attempt to upload attachment below...

Jx

[jampot]

looks like a crab apple to me but not entirley sure

[littleblackfox]

Hi Jampot!

When I first saw the fruits I thought they looked like rosehips, as there remains of the flowers (style, stamen, whatever-it-was) were still on the end, though they seem to have fallen off now. I seem to recall crabapples having 5 seeds in a star shape when cut across the middle, like a regular-apple, is that right?

[jampot]

have you cut one thru middle -wise ?? to look for the star shape

[healer]

Could be a "cherry-crab" There seems to be many crosses with the siberian crab that has very small fruit. John Downie is one cross which is great for apple jelly - the fruit is quite large though. The Brogdale National Fruit collection has some pictures of siberian crab and its crosses but not many (yet)

[MuddyWitch]

My thought is Prunus avium or bird cherry.

http://www.trees-online.co.uk/images/wi ... ium-76.jpg
MW

[MKG]

In terms of appearance and growth habit, I'd go along with MuddyWitch. Except Littleblackfox's photo shows one cut straight down the middle and there doesn't appear to be a stone. I thought all cherries had stones?????

Mike

[Hedgehogpie]

I'd say it's a crab apple of some kind, it's far too late in the year for prunus avium to be fruiting.

[MKG]

The red flesh was getting me. However ...

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/suttonelms/apple43.html

... hmmmmm.

Mike

[Milims]

Interesting site MKG. My mum's apple tree grows fruit with a pink tinge to their flesh - they are yummy!
As to the original pics - I'd say a variety of crab apple too. Bird cherries tend to be in the late spring/ summer here and they have a large stone in the middle with not much flesh around them

[Millymollymandy]

Do crab apples normally grow with a long cherry like stem? I've never seen a crap apple tree up close so just assumed they'd be attached like a regular apple.

[healer]

cherry crabs have the long stems thats why I suggested it

[littleblackfox]

Well I cut through one crossways today, and it has a star, so it looks like its a crabapple (I've never seen a red crabapple before!)

thanks for all the advice!