"AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS DOCTOR AWAY" 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. Apples are one of the most commonly consumed fruit types, likely due to their convenience, flavor, variety, and availability. There are thousands of known apple varieties in the world, however, in the United States about twenty or so are commercially available. They range in color (from red to green