Ribston Pippin Malus domestica 'Ribston Pippin' (D)

Names

• Family

  Rosaceae.

• Synonyms

  Ribston Pippin, Ribston, Glory of York, Traver's Apple, Rockhill's Russet, Formosa, Beautiful Arcade, Byford Wonder.

• Common names

  Malus domestica 'Ribston Pippin'.

Toxicity

• To humans

  The plant in question is commonly known as the apple, specifically the 'Ribston Pippin' cultivar. Apples are not toxic to humans and are widely consumed for their taste and nutritional value. However, the seeds within the apple core contain amygdalin, which can release cyanide when metabolized. Ingesting a large number of apple seeds could potentially lead to cyanide poisoning, which can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, confusion, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and in extreme cases, respiratory failure and death. That being said, the amount of cyanide released from apple seeds is generally too low to cause harm unless consumed in extremely large quantities.

• To pets

  The plant commonly known as the apple, particularly the 'Ribston Pippin' variety, poses a similar risk to pets as it does to humans. The flesh of the apple is safe for pets to consume in moderation. However, as with humans, the seeds contain amygdalin, which can convert into cyanide when digested. Cyanide poisoning in pets can result in symptoms like dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock, and in severe cases, coma or death. It's also important to note that the apple core and stem can pose a choking hazard or cause gastrointestinal obstruction. It's best to offer pets only the flesh of the apple and avoid giving them the core or seeds.

Characteristics

• Life cycle

  Perennials

• Foliage type

  Deciduous

• Color of leaves

  Green

• Flower color

  White

• Height

  12-15 feet (3.7-4.6 meters)

• Spread

  12-15 feet (3.7-4.6 meters)

• Plant type

  Tree

• Hardiness zones

  5-8

• Native area

  Eurasia

General Benefits

• Delicious Fruit: 'Ribston Pippin' is known for producing sweet and aromatic apples, which are a delight to eat fresh from the tree.
• Home Gardening: The tree can be a satisfying addition to home gardens, providing the pleasure of growing your own fruit.
• Wildlife Attraction: Apple trees can attract various birds and pollinators, thus supporting local biodiversity.
• Shade Provider: As a deciduous tree, 'Ribston Pippin' can offer shade in garden landscapes during the hot summer months.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Apple trees have beautiful blossoms in the spring, which enhance the visual appeal of the area they are planted in.
• Culinary Uses: The apples are versatile in the kitchen, suitable for baking, cooking, or making delicious cider.

Medical Properties

• Antioxidant activity: Apples from the 'Ribston Pippin' variety, like other apples, contain antioxidants such as vitamin C and polyphenols which can help reduce oxidative stress in the body.
• Dietary fiber: They are a source of dietary fiber which assists in maintaining digestive health and can help prevent constipation.

Air-purifying Qualities

This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.

Other Uses

• The wood of apple trees, including Ribston Pippin, can be used in woodworking for making small specialty items like tool handles, owing to its hard and dense nature.
• Growing Ribston Pippin apple trees can serve as a natural habitat for various bird species that nest in the trees and eat insects harmful to the apple crop.
• Apple leaves and branches from pruning can be added to compost as a source of green waste, which adds nutrients and structure to the compost as it breaks down.
• The practice of grafting allows for the propagation of the exact genetic clone of Ribston Pippin, ensuring the desired fruit characteristics are maintained in new trees.
• Apple wood from the Ribston Pippin can be used in smoking food, giving a subtly sweet and fruity smoke flavor to meats and cheeses.
• Dried apple wood from the Ribston Pippin can be used to make wood chips for mulching garden beds, providing soil nutrients and moisture retention.
• The flowers of the Ribston Pippin apple tree can be a valuable source of nectar and pollen for honey bees, which in turn help pollinate the blossom and increase fruit yield.
• Used in educational settings, Ribston Pippin apple trees can teach about the life cycle of plants, botanical science, and the importance of bees in pollination.
• Throughout history, apple trees, including the Ribston Pippin, have often been symbolic in art and literature, representing various themes such as knowledge, beauty, and temptation.
• During the autumn, fallen leaves from the Ribston Pippin tree can be used to make artistic leaf prints or for other creative arts and crafts projects.

Feng Shui

The Apple is not used in Feng Shui practice.

Zodiac Sign Compitability

The Apple is not used in astrology practice.

Plant Symbolism

• Knowledge: The 'Ribston Pippin' is a cultivar of apple, and apples have been associated with knowledge since the story of Adam and Eve in the Christian Bible, where the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge was conventionally thought to be an apple.
• Beauty: The apple blossom, which precedes the fruit, is known for its delicate beauty, symbolizing the fleeting nature of beauty and life's beautiful moments.
• Youthfulness: Apples are often associated with youth and vitality due to their crisp texture and the rejuvenating feeling they can evoke when eaten.
• Love and Desire: In many cultures, apples are considered symbols of love and desire, possibly due to their alluring taste and the long-standing tradition of giving an apple to a teacher as a sign of affection.
• Abundance and Prosperity: Because apple trees produce a large amount of fruit, they have become symbols of abundance and prosperity, representing a bountiful yield and material wealth.
• Eternal Life: In Norse mythology, apples are thought to keep the gods youthful, making them a symbol of immortality and eternal life.