Taxon ID: 1
Usage Facet: class=edible; edible_score=1.0; ornamental_score=0.0; inferred_from_taxon=yes
Relationships: 1 | Linked Entities (visible): 1 | Evidence claims: 34 | History events: 1 | Catalog issue offerings: 0
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Evidence Badge: emerging | claims=34 | sources=2 | contradictions=0
Claim Types: description_snippet:8, culinary_use:5, fruit_color:2, recommendation_context:2, taxon_context:2, anecdote_snippet:1, breeder_reference:1, breeding_cross:1, fruit_size:1, hardiness_code_expansion:1, release_year_reference:1, ripening_window:1, selection_origin_reference:1, source_reference_abbreviation:1, storage_duration:1, tree_form:1 | Open evidence summary JSON | Open citation drawer JSON
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Sylvia is a very early crabapple or applecrab with small pale yellow fruit. It came from a Siberian crab, or baccata, crossed with Yellow Transparent. It is linked to Saunders and the Central Experimental Farm at Ottawa. Prairie sources remember it as an old hardy utility fruit, not a dessert apple. Sources place its introduction in 1910 or 1911. [S1] [S2]
The fruit is small, about 4 cm or 1 1/2 inches. It is ovate to pointed, ribbed, and pale yellow. Contemporary descriptions say the flesh is juicy, sub-acid, pleasant, and of good quality overall. Later prairie commentary is more blunt. It says Sylvia is poor for fresh eating unless fully ripe, but very good for canning, sauce, juice, and preserving. One source calls it a favorite canned apple. That helps explain why it stayed on prairie recommendation lists despite weak dessert quality. [S1] [S2]
Sylvia ripens very early, in early August, and does not keep long. Sources say it develops water core soon after ripening and that the fruit drops. It seems to have been valued mainly as a kitchen crab for immediate use, not as a keeper. In the prairie recommendation list, it is marked for early season, preserving, and juice, with pale yellow fruit. [S1] [S2]
The tree is described as fairly vigorous, upright, hardy, and productive. A prairie recommendation list places it among the highly recommended crabapples for most of the prairie region and gives it an H1-2 hardiness rating, placing it among the hardest or moderately hardy kinds in that system. Another source says it is not tolerant of chlorosis. Sylvia matters as an early Ottawa bred crabapple carried into prairie orchard culture for earliness, processing value, and practical hardiness, not for refined fresh eating. [S1] [S2]
Summary source basis
This summary currently draws chiefly from Edible Apples in Prairie Canada, with 1 additional supporting sources linked below.
Featured source descriptions
“Subject to water core soon after ripening.”
— [1]
“Very early maturing.”
— [1]
“Very early.”
— [1]
“H1-2 hardiness rating.”
— [1]
Direct parent cultivars
Parentage claim text
Derived or downstream cultivar links
Source-story quotations
Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.
Related cultivars mentioned in source context
Zone assertions are structured rows. Hardiness claim text appears in evidence claims and page-linked citations.
| Zone Min | Zone Max | Zone Text | Assertion Type | Outcome | Location | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No explicit zone assertion rows yet. | ||||||
No linked media assets.
| Document | Title/URL | Rights | Claims | Relationships | History Events | Pages | Snippets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Edible Apples in Prairie Canada | unknown | 33 | 0 | 0 | p4 p68 | References cited: WCSH (Western Canadian Society for Horticulture (1944- ).).; H1-2: between the hardiest and moderately hardy classes.; FB2: moderate resistance or intermediate fireblight class as coded in the document. |
| 45 | Harvester | unknown | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a | Sylvia x Melba; relationship: cross_parent; history: Sylvia x Melba |
| Document | Page | Claim Type | Claim | Quote | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | p68 | source_reference_abbreviation | References cited: WCSH (Western Canadian Society for Horticulture (1944- ).). | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | entry_hardiness_observation | Hardiness rated between H1 and moderately hardy (H1-2). | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | description_snippet | Listed as a crabapple (crabapple or applecrab, fruit less than 5 cm diameter). | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | hardiness_code_expansion | H1-2: between the hardiest and moderately hardy classes. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | description_snippet | FB2: moderate resistance or intermediate fireblight class as coded in the document. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | description_snippet | Original spelling noted as 'Syllvia'. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | tree_form | Coutts (1991) says it is a good crab for line splicing. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | recommendation_context | WCSH 1955 recommendation noted. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | description_snippet | Not tolerant to chlorosis. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | description_snippet | Professor notes it is the first favorite of the coyotes and bears. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | entry_hardiness_observation | Dependably hardy at Jarvie. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | culinary_use | Manchester described it as exceptionally good for sauce and juice, but not good for eating until fully ripe. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | anecdote_snippet | Blades called it a horrible dessert apple, but a favorite canned. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | description_snippet | Subject to water core soon after ripening. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | description_snippet | Very early maturing. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | fruit_color | Pale yellow. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | fruit_size | Fruit nearly 4 cm. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | taxon_context | Classified as a crabapple or applecrab (CR), meaning fruit less than 5 cm diameter. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | release_year_reference | Referenced with year 1911. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | selection_origin_reference | Associated with CEF. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | breeder_reference | Associated with Saunders. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p68 | entry_pedigree | Parentage given as baccata x Yellow Transparent. | Sylvia (baccata x Yellow Transparent) Saunders, CEF (1911) CR | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p4 | ripening_window | Source code indicates early season. | CR Sylvia E/P/J/H1-2 (Very early, pale yellow fruit) | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p4 | culinary_use | Source code indicates preserving or canning. | CR Sylvia E/P/J/H1-2 (Very early, pale yellow fruit) | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p4 | culinary_use | Source code indicates juice. | CR Sylvia E/P/J/H1-2 (Very early, pale yellow fruit) | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p4 | entry_hardiness_observation | Hardiness rated between H1 and moderately hardy (H1-2). | CR Sylvia E/P/J/H1-2 (Very early, pale yellow fruit) | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p4 | description_snippet | Listed as a crabapple (crabapple or applecrab, fruit less than 5 cm diameter). | CR Sylvia E/P/J/H1-2 (Very early, pale yellow fruit) | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p4 | description_snippet | Very early. | CR Sylvia E/P/J/H1-2 (Very early, pale yellow fruit) | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p4 | fruit_color | Pale yellow fruit. | CR Sylvia E/P/J/H1-2 (Very early, pale yellow fruit) | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p4 | culinary_use | Recommended for juice. | CR Sylvia E/P/J/H1-2 (Very early, pale yellow fruit) | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p4 | culinary_use | Recommended for preserving or canning. | CR Sylvia E/P/J/H1-2 (Very early, pale yellow fruit) | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p4 | storage_duration | Marked E, indicating early season. | CR Sylvia E/P/J/H1-2 (Very early, pale yellow fruit) | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p4 | entry_hardiness_observation | Rated H1-2, between hardiest and moderately hardy. | CR Sylvia E/P/J/H1-2 (Very early, pale yellow fruit) | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p4 | taxon_context | Classified as a crabapple or applecrab with fruit less than 5 cm diameter. | CR Sylvia E/P/J/H1-2 (Very early, pale yellow fruit) | page_block:0.90 |
| 3 | p4 | recommendation_context | Listed under Highly Recommended for most of the prairie region. | CR Sylvia E/P/J/H1-2 (Very early, pale yellow fruit) | page_block:0.90 |
| Year | Nursery | Catalog Issue | Relation |
|---|---|---|---|
| No catalog issue offerings linked. | |||
| Relation | Type | ID | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| cross_parent | cultivar | 112 | Melba |
| Type | Claim | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| source_reference_abbreviation | References cited: WCSH (Western Canadian Society for Horticulture (1944- ).). | 0.93 |
| hardiness_code_expansion | H1-2: between the hardiest and moderately hardy classes. | 0.96 |
| description_snippet | FB2: moderate resistance or intermediate fireblight class as coded in the document. | 0.72 |
| description_snippet | Original spelling noted as 'Syllvia'. | 0.97 |
| tree_form | Coutts (1991) says it is a good crab for line splicing. | 0.78 |
| recommendation_context | WCSH 1955 recommendation noted. | 0.90 |
| description_snippet | Not tolerant to chlorosis. | 0.95 |
| description_snippet | Professor notes it is the first favorite of the coyotes and bears. | 0.73 |
| entry_hardiness_observation | Dependably hardy at Jarvie. | 0.87 |
| culinary_use | Manchester described it as exceptionally good for sauce and juice, but not good for eating until fully ripe. | 0.95 |
| anecdote_snippet | Blades called it a horrible dessert apple, but a favorite canned. | 0.88 |
| description_snippet | Subject to water core soon after ripening. | 0.96 |
| description_snippet | Very early maturing. | 0.97 |
| fruit_color | Pale yellow. | 0.95 |
| fruit_size | Fruit nearly 4 cm. | 0.96 |
| taxon_context | Classified as a crabapple or applecrab (CR), meaning fruit less than 5 cm diameter. | 0.99 |
| release_year_reference | Referenced with year 1911. | 0.97 |
| selection_origin_reference | Associated with CEF. | 0.95 |
| breeder_reference | Associated with Saunders. | 0.96 |
| entry_pedigree | Parentage given as baccata x Yellow Transparent. | 0.98 |
| ripening_window | Source code indicates early season. | 0.90 |
| culinary_use | Source code indicates preserving or canning. | 0.90 |
| culinary_use | Source code indicates juice. | 0.90 |
| entry_hardiness_observation | Hardiness rated between H1 and moderately hardy (H1-2). | 0.97 |
| description_snippet | Listed as a crabapple (crabapple or applecrab, fruit less than 5 cm diameter). | 0.96 |
| description_snippet | Very early. | 0.96 |
| fruit_color | Pale yellow fruit. | 0.97 |
| culinary_use | Recommended for juice. | 0.98 |
| culinary_use | Recommended for preserving or canning. | 0.98 |
| storage_duration | Marked E, indicating early season. | 0.96 |
| entry_hardiness_observation | Rated H1-2, between hardiest and moderately hardy. | 0.97 |
| taxon_context | Classified as a crabapple or applecrab with fruit less than 5 cm diameter. | 0.99 |
| recommendation_context | Listed under Highly Recommended for most of the prairie region. | 0.99 |
| breeding_cross | Sylvia x Melba | 0.65 |
| ID | Type | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 450 | cross_event | 1960 | Sylvia x Melba |