Saving the Apple’s Ancient Ancestor in the Forests of Kazakhstan

Photo caption: Malus sieversii is a wild apple native to the mountains of southern Kazakhstan. Photo credit: Anna Yu / Alamy. Article by Laura Kiniry. Smithsonian Magazine – December 22, 2023.

The foothills of Kazakhstan’s Tian Shan mountains are something of a genetic wonderland. This vast mountain system forms the border between China and Central Asia, and between its higher spruce-covered slopes and its lower poplar trees are dense patches of woodlands, ones brimming with walnuts and wild fruits. […]

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