Malus kansuensis (Batalin) C. K. Schneid.

This species is similar to Malus honanensis, which differs in its more lobed leaf margin, glabrous or sparsely villous corymb, and subglobose fruit often with a persistent calyx.

Shrubs or small trees, 3–5 m tall; branchlets purplish brown or dark brown when old, terete, puberulous when young, glabrous when old; buds dark purple, ovoid; scales tomentose at margin. Stipules linear-lanceolate, 6–10 mm, herbaceous, sparsely pubescent, margin sparsely glandular denticulate, apex acuminate; petiole 1.5–4 cm, sparsely puberulous; leaf blade ovate or broadly ovate, 5–8 × 4–6 cm, abaxially sparsely puberulous or glabrous, base rounded or truncate, margin doubly serrulate, often 3-lobed, rarely irregularly or not lobed, apex acute or acuminate. Corymb 5–6.5 cm in diam., 4–10-flowered; bracts caducous, linear-lanceolate, membranous, margin entire, apex acuminate. Pedicel 2.5–3.5 cm, sparsely pubescent or glabrous. Flowers 1.5–2 cm in diam. Hypanthium campanulate, abaxially villous or glabrous. Sepals triangular-ovate or triangular-lanceolate, 5–6 mm, ca. as long as or slightly longer than hypanthium, abaxially glabrous, adaxially villous, margin entire, apex acuminate. Petals white, broadly obovate, 0.8–1 cm, base shortly clawed, apex rounded. Stamens 20, unequal, ca. 1/2 as long as petals. Styles (2 or)3(or 4), slightly longer than stamens, glabrous basally. Pome yellowish red, ellipsoid or obovoid, 1–1.5 cm in diam.; sepals caducous; fruiting pedicel 2–3.5 cm. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Jul–Aug. 2n = 34*.

Gansu, Henan, Hubei, ?Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan.

Mixed forests, scrub; 1500--3300 m.