By: Shonagh Neafsey

Shonagh Neafsey — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:26:46 +0000

Re: malus coronaria and malus ioensus and quote from Douglas Tallamy’s book “Bringing Nature Home”
These crabapple species are a “case where aliens are so similar in leaf chemistry to our native species that there is little evidence that native insects can tell the difference”
AND where I volunteer at Wolf Road Species there is said to be a non-native crabapple that should be removed to make more room for the native Iowa crabs.
Yet I have photos of cedar waxwings feeding on the tree while in blossom. So: 1)How do I identify the actual species of this actual tree?
2) Is it PARTLY native?
3) Does it have “hybrid vigor”? (as above)
4)Is not hybridization important to study with rapid global climate changes and increasing importations for agricultural and ornamental uses?
Please hurry before this beautiful old tree is gone! Fellow volunteers with more experience and knowledge have allowed it to remain, for now. At first they said it was invasive but there has been no real evidence of that at this site. Last month this site was cleared of many other alien trees and this has been spared, for NOW. Student project? Actually there may be two such trees there, side by side with native Iowa crabapples.
Entomologists who like to count? Anyone?

Comments on: China’s Ash Trees May Contain Seeds of Hope

By: Shonagh Neafsey