The apple tree (Malus pumila, commonly and erroneously called Malus
domestica) is a deciduous tree in the rose family best known for
its sweet, pomaceous fruit, the apple. It is cultivated worldwide
as a fruit tree, and is the most widely grown species in the genus
Malus. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild
ancestor, Malus sieversii, is still found today. Apples have been
grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe, and were brought
to North America by European colonists. Apples have religious and
mythological significance in many cultures, including Norse, Greek
and European Christian traditions.
