Help identifying tree (Crab apple?)

[royalmuskoka]

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone could help confirm/deny the identification of this tree as a crab apple (or some type of apple)?



I am fairly certain it is a crab apple tree - sadly I can't reach any of the fruit to take a closer look. I just want to be sure as I plan on letting my rabbits chew some branches that have been trimmed off (it's located between our drive and the neighbour's and a few branches needed lopping off).

Any thoughts?

[rustylady]

Any kind of fruit tree should be OK for animals to chew.

[royalmuskoka]

I've always been told that stone fruit trees (plum, cherry, etc) aren't okay for rabbits, due to the cyanide properties in the bark / green flesh.

[WendyC]

Can you lop off the branches and then cut the fruit in half. Might be small and require a sharp knife. You would then be able to see whether it has a core like an apple or a stone like plums and cages. Looks like crab apple to me.

[royalmuskoka]

Okay, after looking a bit crazy after jumping up to try and reach some fruit I found one that had fallen to the ground. It's a bit mushed, but the centre is intact - definitely an apple, yes?

[veggiechicken]

Looks like a crab apple to me too. I thought there was cyanide in apple pips

[WendyC]

Definitely not a stone fruit.

[rustylady]

I've always been told that stone fruit trees (plum, cherry, etc) aren't okay for rabbits, due to the cyanide properties in the bark / green flesh.

I know there's a certain amount of cyanide in the stones (which is what makes them taste of almonds), but I wouldn't have thought there was any in the wood of the tree itself.

[royalmuskoka]

Sorted! Thanks everyone for your help, I really appreciate it.

And yes, VeggieChicken, the pips do - rabbits can only eat the flesh of the fruit (which is why it must be sliced if you give it to them). But as the fruit is super sugary mine don't get it except as a very occassional treat. The leaves and bark and that is okay though! Now just to decide how many leaves they get... they'll get the entire stick I've trimmed off!

[rustylady]

Just done a google search and apparently lots of fruit trees contain these compounds. Maybe don't give any branches to your rabbits.

[royalmuskoka]

All of the rabbit advice sites say apple is okay (and people give it to their rabbits regularly). Perhaps people are just being extra cautious when not giving stone-fruit branches?

[royalmuskoka]

You can now see a very happy rabbit here: