The apple is the edible, usually round fruit of the apple tree, a member of the genus Malus in the rose family Rosaceae. The cultivated apple, usually called Malus domestica, is the most widely grown apple species and a major fruit crop worldwide. Apples are grown both for eating fresh and for use in cooking, cider, and juice production.
Apple trees are deciduous and are typically propagated by grafting cultivars onto rootstocks, which helps control tree size and encourages earlier fruiting. There are more than 7,500 apple cultivars, bred for differences in flavor, texture, storage qualities, and intended use. The fruit itself is a Pome, with edible flesh derived mainly from the flower receptacle and a core containing the seeds. Its color, size, and shape vary greatly among cultivars.
The apple originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, Malus sieversii, still grows. Domestication began thousands of years ago, followed by spread across Eurasia and later to North America with European colonization. Hybridization with related wild species, including Malus sylvestris, also shaped the modern cultivated apple. Apples have long held cultural importance in mythology and religion, especially in Norse mythology, Greek mythology, and Christianity.
From a botanical perspective, the apple is a false fruit. The trees and fruit are vulnerable to fungal, bacterial, and pest problems, which are managed through organic and conventional methods.