Using DNA Testing to measure the ‘wild-ness’ of 100 Dumfries & Galloway Crab Apple Trees
There is only one apple that is considered ‘native’ to the UK, the Crab Apple (Malus Sylvestris). The Crab Apple’s tendency to hybridise with other, non-native varieties means native, ‘wild’ trees are rare. Previous work has identified that Galloway hosts a major proportion of the UK’s wild Crab Apple Trees.
A new phase of work is now launched with capacity to DNA test up to 100 new specimens from across the region, furthering our understanding of local native stock and perhaps shedding light on why our region is so important.
In January 2024, a ‘Galloway Crab Apple Action’ event was held, with more than 200 people in attendance in person or online. The event explored the work to date to understand where and why native crab apples existed in Galloway in such numbers, also covering recipes and historic uses of the Crab Apples, or ‘Scroggies’.
Full information about the Crab Apple research, native trees already identified, and why this matters, is available here: https://dgwoodlands.org.uk/galloway-crab-apple-action/ and also includes a recording of the January event itself.
Citizen Scientists are now sought to better understand the spread of native crab apples in the region, with the ability to test a further 100 trees, from Langholm to Leswalt!
How to take part:
We are looking for trees that you suspect are pure native apple trees. Full description below, but a key point is that they should be at least 500m from any domestic apple or crab apple that may have been imported, or an ornamental such as John Downie or Golden Hornet.
Collect 2 leaves from the tree during the week of 19th – 25th August (with permission of the landowner)
Send/deliver the 2 leaves in an envelope with the exact grid reference of the tree (https://gridreferencefinder.com/) to either of the two addresses below.
Include your contact details and a description of the tree’s location and we will come back to you with results.
If you have a sachet of silica gel desiccant, include that in the envelope but don’t worry if you don’t have one.
Send/deliver the envelope to Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, The Smiddy, Balmaclellan, DG7 3QE, or to Jools Cox, 100A Queen Street, Castle Douglas, DG7 1EH, (07543 289851).
If you have a potential tree but can’t gather the leaves yourself in that week, contact us on mcnabb.laurie@dgwoodlands.org. and we will endeavour to collect on your behalf.
For full information about the project so far, locations of trees previously tested as we don’t want to double test; and to understand the reasons for the research, visit: https://dgwoodlands.org.uk/galloway-crab-apple-action/.
The testing will be undertaken by Markus Rusam at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. The project is being co-ordinated in the region by Crab Apple enthusiast Jools Cox and the Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands team, funded thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Kicking off the search for a further 100 samples, Jools said:
“This is such an exciting and important next chapter to the story of our’ native wild apple’. These Wild Apple trees are as rare as the Wildcat is in the Highlands and we are lucky enough to have many in Dumfries and Galloway, we have about a hundred tested and listed, we want to find another 100. We need you to help us find them and then we can protect them!”
McNabb Laurie from Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands added:
“This is an example of Dumfries & Galloway punching above its weight on the national stage! Other regions look with envy at our stock of native crab apple trees. This project allows us to DNA-test a further 100 samples, lifting the lid further on where and why these native trees cling on. If you know of a Crab Apple tree that might be native, please do collect two leaves and send them in with a Grid reference for testing.”
Description
This is what we are looking for - just 2 leaves from each tree:
Malus Sylvestris
The wild crab apple can be found in ancient woodland or remnant ancient woodland, leaning out of a wood, in a pasture, sometimes mixed with hawthorn, gorse and broom on scrubby knowes; usually lone, but sometimes in a cluster. It is a deciduous, broadleaf, dome shaped, slow growing tree and grows to 10-15m.
Leaves:
The green, glossy, oval leaves are up to 5-7 cm with rounded triangular teeth, alternate on the shoot, and distinctively, the underside has few or no hairs. (Domestic apples often have a downy underside.)
Leaves are often curled or appear crumpled. The leaf stalk is 2-3cm long, and spur shoots may bear a thorn.
The bark is smooth and green/ brown with large, orange breathing pores (lenticels) older trees have scaly ridges. Buds are reddish.
Blossom:
Wild apple trees have a brief week of glory before being overwhelmed by the more numerous and slightly later flowering Hawthorn.
The white or pink blossom appears with the leaves in May, buzzing with bees. Even in flower, they can be difficult to spot (until you get your eye in); and after blooming, they seem to melt back into the landscape.
Fruit
The globe shaped fruit, 2-3cm are yellow/green sometimes flushed with red, small and hard and carry the remnants of the flower, they have a sharp, dry and sour taste when raw.
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is a new initiative seeking to support trees, habitats and the people that depend upon them across the region. Partners include Borders Forest Trust, Woodland Trust Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. For more information about Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, follow the facebook or twitter pages, visit the website www.dgwoodlands.org.uk or sign up for the newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iAlL6k.
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is registered in Scotland as a SCIO, number 052525.