The Apple Tree

-Botanical

Latin name: Malus domestica

The apple tree is a producing fruits tree, native from Minor Asia. We can distinguish the domestic apple tree, and the wild one, which is prickly. Fruits of wild apple tree are not edible.
According to Pliny, in ancient times there was 22 different variety of apple world-wide, but I was not until the 18^th century that the first hybrid apple appears in Britain, from Europe. There are now more than 2000 different species of apple world-wide.
It can grow until 10 meters high. It began to produce fruits after 10 years growing.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Quert

Month: None
Color: Green
Letter in the Ogham: Q
Meaning: A choice must be made

In the Greek mythology, apple tree was considered as a solar tree, because of the form of its fruits. It's the fruit of immortality: Hades, God of Hell, used o give one to his wife, Persephone, when she had to come back in the human world, announcing the spring. But more than that, apple was the symbol of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love and Beauty.
For the Celtic astrology, apple is the Love's fruit. In Celtic times, apples were considered as one of the food of the Gods.
But for Christian, apple is the sin's fruit, which leaded Adam and Eve to leave Eden's Garden.

-Healing

Apples are filled with strong therapeutic agents: sugar, vitamins, pectin and numerous mineral salts. It's useful to cure intestine infections, fatigue, hypertension, and excess cholesterol in the blood. It's good eating apples in the evening, because they encourage sleeping.
Apple's pulp is useful in the elaboration of ointments and salves.

-Physical uses

Apple tree is appreciated for its fruits, and it's cultivated for that. These fruits are used to elaborate cider, especially in Normandy, in France.
Apple tree's wood is easy to work for sculpture, and it's appreciated for the conception of pieces of furniture.