Mystery tree...?

[Boo Who?]

Can anyone help identify this tree please. Flowered in April. The fruit is on the tree now only about 7-8mm in diameter. There only seems to be two sizeable pips in each, but I suspect there are more just less formed within.

The smaller oval leaves are usual, but it has sent out the larger lobed leaves higher up in the canopy this year. Some are purple on the underside others just green...

It is around 65 years old, and about 10m tall although was worked on about 15 years ago.

I guess a malus if some sort but any more specific would be great to know.

[BonzerBob]

Malus profusion?

[Boo Who?]

That looks like a very good contender - can anyone explain the appearance of ‘service tree’ looking leaves?

[BonzerBob]

I agree the leaf is a similar shape to service tree, I guess it's the same family and within that grouping not that uncommon a leaf shape.

[Boo Who?]

My book says profusion has red berries... Liset is a darker sister tree- perhaps it is that?
It also says that occasionally leaves are lobed, so I am sure it is malus x moerlandsii bit which variant can’t be sure.

[BonzerBob]

I think you're right, Liset fruit does fit better with your picture, they both have the same parents Lemoinei and toringo/sieboldii.

 

My book has Liset fruit as dark crimson to maroon-red, 1.2cm in diameter, Profusion is maroon or blood-red, 1.5cm dia.

[Boo Who?]

Well it grows in very sandy soil between 4 very large spruce trees, so I don’t imaging it would waste any drawn up fluid in plumping up its fruit. I’d say they never get bigger than 10mm max.
They are never red either, always the same maroony colour similar to the darker leaves.
What book are you using to reference? I was just in the Collins tree guide but I noticed you were hot on another crab apple in another thread BonzerBob

[BonzerBob]

Sorry about the gap, Flowering crabapples, the genus Malus, by Father John Fiala is very good.

[daltontrees]

There's X Malosorbus florentina (Syn Malus florentina), Hybrid of wood apple (Malus sylvestris) and wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis). A small rounded tree from southern Europe with 1cm red fruits.